Sharp Dressed Men Plus Girl: The Ouran high school boys' uniform is a rather stylish suit, and they wear other types of formal wear for special events.
True Companions: All of them grow really tight over the series, exemplified by both the anime and manga's finales.
The main character of the series. A transfer student to Ouran High School who winds up working with the Host Club to help pay off her debt after accidentally breaking a really expensive vase.
Animal Motifs: Often compared to a raccoon for her cute face and homely nature.
Bad Bad Acting: In the anime, when helping the Zuka club with their play. There was no emoting involved whatsoever.
Averted when dealing with the club's customers, but maybe she doesn't think that's the same as acting on a stage. When she's a host, she's mostly just being herself.
Berserk Button: She is one. Mess with her and the whole Host Club will be after your blood.
Deadpan Snarker: Usually around Tamaki (oh, say, 95% of the time?)
Defrosting Ice Queen/Kuudere: Haruhi may not have been a full-blown Ice Queen, but she initially cared little for the Host Club and solely cared about fulfilling her debt until she gradually befriended all the Host Club members and grew to love the Host Club.
Fear of Thunder: One of the few things Haruhi is genuinely afraid of.
Friend to Bugs: Implied in episode 8 when she finds a centipede on a crab and, instead of killing it, she simply picks it up and throws it aside. When asked if she could have been easier on it, she said, "It takes a lot more than that to kill a bug."
Generation Xerox: Looks and acts a lot like her deceased mother. Like said mother, she becomes a lawyer and falls in love with and marries an idiotic Nice Guy.
Hime Cut: Before she cut her hair short. Perhaps a inversion as she lacks every single trait normally associated with it.
The Ishmael: It becomes apparent in both the manga and anime that Tamaki is more important to the story than her, though Haruhi's still very crucial in providing both emotional support and, in her real crowners, an active push.
Insistent Terminology: She always refers to Tamaki with the honorific of sempai, even after they've been dating for 2 years despite him wanting her to call him daddy.
Like Parent, Like Spouse: It's constantly lampshaded how similar Tamaki is to her father (minus the fact that her father is a professional bisexual crossdresser). They get married at the end of the final bonus chapter.
Sexy Man, Instant Harem: Well, she's got three of the four down. Does a pretty good job of faking the 'man' part as well.
She Cleans Up Nicely: It's just that cleaning up is such a drag for her. If it were up to her, she would be going around school in her infamous Haruhi Potter wear every day.
Sweet Polly Oliver: Not that she cares if anyone knows she's a girl or not, but the rest of the Host Club persists in maintaining the charade in order to keep her in the club.
Tareme Eyes: Strong willed but possibly because its more a quiet sloth than a aggressive thing.
Tomboy: Less of a 'likes traditionally boy activities' than a 'doesn't care about traditional girl activities'
Unwanted Harem: Tamaki, Hikaru, Kaoru (shown more so in the manga), Renge, Kasanoda, and her middle school classmate Arai all like Haruhi. She was even confessed to by her old schoolmates an average of once per month prior to transferring to Ouran. Not that Haruhi noticed any of that.
Women Are Wiser: She seems like this as she is much more sensible then her clubmates, but its more like 'commoners are wiser' as the club's customers are just as silly as they are. Both live in awe of "commoner wisdom."
Wholesome Crossdresser: Played straight with Haruhi herself, but zig-zagged with the club guests/fangirls. At first, they invoke this trope when they remark that they'd love to see how Haruhi would look dressed as a woman, and later, when they claim to have figured out Haruhi's "secret", they agree that "he" actually DOES look good as a woman. It's not until later that they actually realize that Haruhi is, in fact, female, and that the "closeted gay boy" they've been championing this whole time was not.
Work Off The Debt: The only reason Haruhi joined the club in the first place.
The president of the Host Club and quite the charmer (even though he comes off as a well-meaning idiot half the time). Tamaki likes to think of himself as the "daddy" of the Host Club, and thinks of Haruhi as his "daughter".
Crazy Jealous Guy: Can sometimes fall into this in regards to Haruhi. He's mostly harmless and a lovable idiot though.
Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: He can shift from "simpering fop" to "forceful leader" instantly if the situation is sufficiently serious. He's also more athletic then one would think, and he can pull off a damn good Dynamic Entry.
Drama Queen: Something sets him off, and he will act very emotional about it.
Genius Ditz: He gets excellent grades, he's amazingly insightful when it comes to analyzing other people's feelings and motivations...and yet, still undeniably an Idiot Hero.
Hair of Gold: Honest, chivalrous and not acting when he charms customers.
Heroic Bastard: He was born as the result of an affair between his dad and a French woman. His father later dissolved his first marriage and married his paramour.
It's All About Me: Seems to have this attitude, but it turns out he's pretty much always been The Messiah... while still happily bragging about how awesome he is.
Ladykiller In Love: 70 percent of the school's female students swoon over him, but he only has eyes for Haruhi.
Large Ham: All that posing and charming and loud declarations? They're not acting. That's how he really is.
Manic Pixie Dream Guy: More energetic and spontaneous than Haruhi and encourages her out of her shell.
The vice-president of the Host Club, and one of Tamaki's closest friends. Kyouya tends to take a more responsible approach to the club's activities, and tries to make sure that Tamaki and the others don't go overboard.
Four Eyes, Zero Soul: Though this lessens as time goes on, if it was ever really part of his character to begin with. "He's like some evil tax collector!"
Hidden Heart of Gold: Yes, he's stingy, sneaky, and puts up the air of a heartless know-it-all, but his loyalty to Tamaki and the host club is unwavering and he'd risk his own repuation to help them.
Not So Stoic: Episode 24 of the anime; in the manga, his blow up at Tamaki's father.
Obviously Evil: Let's see, a bespectacled, cold and calculating man who doesn't actually do any hosting? And he's a black haired chessmaster? Makes you wonder when he's going to turn evil. Never, he's a great guy.
He has done some hosting in the background, especially in the anime during the club's theme days. Apparently he's the "cool type."
Odd Friendship: With Kaoru, of all people, in later manga chapters.
The Proud Elite: He is the brain behind the Host Club. He acts as though he cares only about the bottom line and what will benefit himself, as he feels befits the third son of the Ootori family, but he has been shown to have a well-hidden altruistic streak.
Unkempt Beauty: As shown in episode 17, Kyoya still looks good even when he's literally dragged out of bed in frumpy clothes and bed hair.
Well Done Son Guy: As the third son to his family's line of work, he's pressured himself to surpass his father's expectations while knowing that such a thing was almost dauntingly impossible. It's when Tamaki enters his life that he starts to loosen up and care for other people for something other than business benefits.
Finally stops this in a Crowning Moment of Awesome where he buys his dad's company (or at least the majority stock) from the competitor who was blackmailing his dad with it. Then he gives the whole company right back to his dad like it's nothing at all.
A set of cunning and mischievous twins in the same class as Haruhi. Joining the Host Club helped them open up to others, as they previously believed that they could only depend on one another.
Jerkass: They can be downright harsh at times, particulary in the flashbacks, stemmming from their past self-isolation and condescending outlook on other people who couldn't tell them apart (which is why Haruhi interests them so much). However, they've had plenty of Pet the Dog moments to counter this, especially Hikaru.
Lamarck Was Right: Their love of playing with people's minds (as well as a taste in fashion and make-up) comes from their mother and maternal grandmother.
Not to mention the fact that their little sister in the bonus chapters is exactly the same as them when they were her age.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Hikaru starts a lot of troubles and is easily impulsive if separated from Kaoru, while Kaoru is the colder brother and is usually more calm and collected if separated from Hikaru.
Sibling Triangle: Hikaru and Kaoru both develop feelings for Haruhi. Kaoru gives up on Haruhi because he cares about Hikaru more than his feelings for Haruhi and steps down, instead rooting for Hikaru to win Haruhi. However, after realizing Haruhi's and Tamaki's growing feelings for each other, Hikaru eventually decides to step down as well.
Honey is the youngest-looking member of the Host Club, yet actually the oldest one. He's a cousin to Mori, and his family owns a prestigious martial arts dojo.
Adult Child: Keeps up with his cutesy personality even into university. It actually took a duel for Mori to convince him to restrain his childish behavior.
Be Yourself: What Tamaki taught him during Hani's time of self-denial before joining the Host Club.
Berserk Button: Don't mess with Mori, Haruhi, or his stuffed bunny Usa-chan, and do not take his sweets away.
Big Brother Mentor: In the manga at least, though even there his relationship with his brother Chika is a little wacky. In later chapters he occasionally plays this role for Kaoru.
Big Eater: He eats three whole cakes every night for dessert.
Cutesy Dwarf: Likely the cause of his shota appeal.
It is revealed in an extra one-shot that Kyouya had been giving him vitamins in order to stunt his growth, as they already had a "Dumb blond character" (Tamaki) and didn't need another one. Once he stopped getting the vitamins he grew 32 centimeters in two months. It's a dream Haruhi had, but still.
Everything's Better With Bunnies: He carries around a pink stuffed bunny with him almost all the time. In fact, he's also frequently compared to Fruits Basket's Momiji Sohma, the "rabbit" of the zodiac (they also have the same seiyuu).
He can actually make bunny shuriken.
Expy: As if the entry above didn't give you a clue.
Hair of Gold: As proven by Renge, he has no 'angst side'. He really is that cute; inside and out.
Token Mini-Moe: He is the youngest looking of all the Host Club members, and looks and acts like a cute elementary school student. In fact, he is the oldest of the group.
Mori is tall and intimidating, but very soft-spoken. As his family is sworn to protect the Haninozuka family, Mori shares a very special kinship with Honey and his friends.
Badass: He can slice through a falling flower pot with his bare hand without so much as a flinch. And don't forget, he is the only person who can keep Honey under control.
Badass Baritone: His voice is deep, especially in the English version.
He also has shades of this with Haruhi, almost from the very first time they meet - in the first episode of the anime, she calls out to him for help and he runs to her aid without a second thought.
Big Brother Mentor: To Honey again. While normally very supportive, he's the one to tell Honey when he can't do something, and is the only one who can really stop him. In the manga, he occasionally acts as one to Hikaru as well.
Legacy Of Service: Mori comes from a family with a long line of serving the Haninozuka clan. The master-servant bond was dispelled when the families were joined by marriage, but Mori still watches over and protects Honey like a big brother would.
Master Swordsman: Though never seen, he is a kendo champion, and on occasion swings a sword around.
The Quiet One: Mori does occasionally speak, but it's usually in short sentences. Apparently, when he is very tired he becomes quite flirtatious and chatty. Weird.
Haruhi's father, who seems to share the same relaxed views on gender as she does. He works in an okama bar, which is why he more often than not cross-dresses.
Amazingly Embarrassing Dad: Subverted. He does seem this way, but Haruhi isn't actually embarrassed by him.
Good Parents <- -> Parents as People: Loves Haruhi dearly, but overworks himself a lot for her sake, and Haruhi sometimes has to tell him to take some time off.
Kasanoda is the successor to one of the most powerful yakuza groups in Japan. He is one of the first members outside of the Host Club to learn of Haruhi's secret. She calls him "Casanova", while the twins jokingly refer to him as "Bossa Nova".
Be Careful What You Wish For: He wanted to be liked, not feared. By the end, he befriends his underlings, has become liked in school, and popular with girls. Everyone thinks he's gay now, but whatever.
An anime-only character. She's a young girl from France who is in love with Tamaki and ropes him into an Arranged Marriage with an offer he really can't refuse... the chance to see his Missing Mom again.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: Eclair coerces Tamaki into marrying her, causes the dissolution of the host club, and conspires with Kyouya's evil father. It's all an elaborate plan to get Tamaki back with his Missing Mom, with whom she's friends.
A manga only character, Mei is Misuzu's daughter, and is one of the first non Host Club members to realize Haruhi's feelings for Tamaki. She admires the twins' mother and enjoys designing fashions. She seems to be Haruhi's only female friend.
Gal: She looks to be the ganguro type - with her tanned skin and lots of makeup. She gives Haruhi a Gal magazine to help her realize that she loves Tamaki.
Love at First Sight: Falls for Tamaki upon seeing him and asks a somewhat reluctant Haruhi for her assistance.
Parental Abandonment: Her father's crossdressing is the reason for her parents divorce and her estrangement from her father.
Benio (or "Benibara", as she's known to her peers) is a student from the all-female St. Lobelia academy. She believes that all females are meant to be pure, and dislikes the flirtatious nature of the men of the Ouran host club.
Distaff Counterpart: Except her Straw Feminist tendencies, she's basically Tamaki with brown hair and occasionally in a sailor fuku.
Even the Girls Want Her: More than half of St. Lobelia is deeply in love with her and formed a fan club.
Nice Girl: At the end of chapter 31, she reveals that she merely wanted to borrow Haruhi for the sole purpose of helping out with walking Zuka Club newbies through playing boys onstage, and makes up for the trouble she might've caused the Host Club in the process by inviting EVERYONE in the Host Club (Haruhi included) to the latest Zuka Club production.
Chika is Honey's younger brother. Like Honey, he is an expert martial artist, and is also the captain of the judo and karate clubs. He takes his work very seriously, and is disappointed that Honey doesn't.
