Origins of character names in Dragon Ball (2025)

This is a list of origins of character names in the Dragon Ball franchise. Each character's name, particularly their original Japanese name, is a pun on regular words, often the names of various foods.

Races[]

• Saiyan (Saiya-jin) - In Japanese, saiya is formed by rearranging the syllables of the Japanese word yasai which means "vegetable".
• Tuffle (Tsufuru-jin) - In Japanese, tsufuru is formed by rearranging the syllables of the Japanese word furutsu which means "fruit".
• Namekian (Nameksei-jin) - In Japanese, namek is a shortening of the Japanese word namekuji which means "slug".
• Majin - Can be translated as "demon", ma- being derived from the Japanese word mazoku, meaning demon.

Saiyans[]

All full-blooded Saiyans' names are puns on various vegetable names.

• Vegeta (Bejīta) - The first six letters of "vegetable".
• Tarble (Tāburu) - Believed to be taken in English as 'Table', making this name another a pun on "vegetable", particularly its last five letters. Curiously, this would mean both Tarble and his brother Vegeta's names pun "vegetable".
• Bardock (Bādakku) - A pun on a Japanese root vegetable, a "dock".
• Kakarot (Kakarotto) - Goku's birth name, an interesting mutation of "carrot".
• Nappa - A Chinese term for greens in general, particular "cabbage".
• Raditz (Radditsu) - Derives from "radish".
• Broly (Burorī) - A pun on "broccoli".
• Paragus (Paragas) - In Japanese, a loose translation of "asparagus" (in the English dub, the name uses the same spelling as the word, sans the 'as-').
• Shugesh (Panbukin) - In Japanese, panbukin is a pun on "pumpkin".
• Fasha (Seripa) - In Japanese, formed by rearranging the letters in "parsley".
• Toma (Tora) - A shortening of "tomato".
• Borgos (Totepo) - A pun on "potato".
• Turles (Tāresu) - In Japanese, formed by rearranging the syllables in "lettuce".
• Brocco - A pun on "broccoli", as with Broly's name.
• Pumpkin (Saegi) - A pun on "pumpkin", as with Shugesh's Japanese name.
• Zorn - A pun on "corn".

Namekians[]

• King Piccolo (Pikkoro Daimao) - Named after a musical instrument, a piccolo, which is a small flute. Ironically, King Piccolo can't stand high-pitched or whistling sounds, like all other Namekians. In Namekkugo, the Namekian language, piccolo means "another world".
• Piccolo (Pikkoro Ja.) - Same as King Piccolo.
• Piano - Named after the musical instrument.
• Tambourine (Tanbarin) - Named after the musical instrument.
• Cymbal (Shinbaru) - Named after the musical instrument.
• Drum (Doramu) - Named after the musical instrument.
• Kami - Kami means "god" in Japanese.
• Lord Slug - Named after "slug".
• Dende - Derives from denden-mushi which is Japanese for "snail".
• Cargo - A pun on the French word escargot, which means "snail".
• Nail - Most likely a pun on "snail" (may also mean "nail", as in 'hammer and nails').

Majins[]

• Bibidi - Is a part of a Disney (Cinderella) reference, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!".
• Babidi - Is a part of a Disney (Cinderella) reference, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!".
• Majin Buu - Is a part of a Disney (Cinderella) reference, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!".
• Dabura (Dābura) - Derives from the famous incantation, "Abracadabra".

Humans[]

• Goku (Gokū) - Kakarot's new name, given by Grandpa Gohan. It is a translation of the Chinese name Sun Wukong, the protagonist of Journey to the West, meaning "Monkey King". Kū is also Japanese for "sky".
• Gohan - Japanese for "rice" or dishes; foods in general.
• Goten - Ten is Chinese for "sky" but also means heaven/afterlife in Japanese.
• Chi-Chi - Japanese for "milk" and "father". Also a Japanese slang term for "breasts".
• Master Roshi/Turtle Hermit (Muten Rōshi/Kame-Sen'nin) - In Japanese, kame means "turtle", and sennin are ascetic Taoist hermits of legend who are said to have magical powers, animal familiars, and extraordinarily long life. Thus, Kame-Sen'nin literally means "Turtle Hermit". Rōshi is Japanese for the Chinese word laoshi which means "teacher".
• Jackie Chun - Master Roshi's alias, a pun on "Jackie Chan".
• Yamcha (Yamucha) - A pun on dim sum in Chinese, a kind of appetizer, dumpling.
• Krillin (Kuririn) - Kuri or kurumi is Japanese for "chestnut". This is Akira Toriyama's joke about Krillin's lack of hair. Rin (-lin) derives from the word "shaolin".
• Marron - French word for "chestnut".
• Maron - Likely meaning "chestnut", as with Marron.
• Tien Shinhan (Tenshinhan) - Derives from the Chinese term tien chun fan, meaning "fried rice" or some kind of rice meal.
• Chiaotzu (Chaozu) - Japanese translation of gyoza or jiaozi in Chinese, it means "sticker" or "dumpling".
• Bulma (Buruma) - Means "bloomers". Also Japanese for short gym shorts worn by girls.
• Dr. Briefs - Pun on "briefs", a type of men's underwear.
• Trunks (Torankusu) - Boy's underwear, gym shorts, also known as boxers.
• Bulla (Bura) - In Japanese, a women's bra.
• Pan - A double pun deriving from the Pan of Greek mythology, but also meaning "bread" in Japanese and Spanish. Her name continues both her father's food-based name and her mother's religion-based name.
• Hercule (Mr. Satan) - Mr. Satan, the character's name in the Japanese dub and English films, simply refers to the Satan, Devil.
• Videl (Bīderu) - Formed by rearranging the letters in the word "devil".
• Sharpener (Sharpner) - His name derives from a (pencil) "sharpener" accessory.
• Erasa - Her name derives from an "eraser" accessory.
• Launch (Ranchi) - In Japanese, named after the word "lunch".
• Lime - Named after the fruit "lime".
• Yajirobe (Yajirobē) - Named after a Japanese balancing toy, yajirobē.
• Sno - Named after the word "snow".
• Ranfan - The words ran and fuan are respectively Japanese for "lingerie" and "foundation garments".

Frieza's clan[]

• Frieza (Furīza) - A pun on "freezer".
• Cooler (Kūra) - A pun on "cooler".
• King Cold (Korudo Daiō) - Also refers to low temperatures.

Frieza's henchmen[]

• Appule (Apūru) - Named after the fruit "apple".
• Blueberry - Named after the fruit.
• Cui (Kiwi) - A pun on the fruit "kiwi".
• Dodoria - A pun on the fruit "durian".
• Goose - Possibly named after the word "goose".
• Namole - Possibly a pun on "guacamole", an avocado-based food dip.
• Pomegren - A pun on the fruit "pomegranate".
• Raspberry - Named after the fruit.
• Zarbon (Zābon) - A pun on the fruit "pomelo".
• Zeso - A pun on "espresso".
• Abo - A pun on "avocado".
• Kado - A pun on "avocado".
• Aka (Abo Kado) - The fusion of Abo and Kado, called by this name by Gotenks, his name is also a pun on "avocado".

Dodoria's Elite (Dodoria no Seiei)[]

• Commander Cado - A pun of "avocado".
• Boysenberry - Named after the fruit.
• Grepe - A pun on "grape".
• Tanger - A pun on the fruit "tangerine".

Ginyu Force (Ginyū Tokusentai)[]

All members of the Ginyu Force are named after dairy products in the Japanese dub.

• Captain Ginyu (Ginyū Taichō) - A pun on the Japanese word gyunyu which means "milk".
• Burter (Bāta) - A pun on "butter".
• Guldo (Gurudo) - A pun on the Japanese word yogurudo which means "yogurt".
• Jeice (Jīsu) - A pun on the word "cheese". In English dubs, his localized name may be a pun on "juice".
• Recoome (Rikūmu) - Formed by rearranging the letters in the Japanese word kurīmu, meaning "cream".

Cooler's henchmen[]

Cooler's henchmen are named after condiments and salad dressings.

• Captain Salza (Sauza Taichō) - A pun on the Spanish sauce "salsa".
• Dore (Dōre) - Derives from the "saradore" salad dressing.
• Neiz (Neizu) - A pun on "mayonnaisse".

Garlic Jr.'s henchmen[]

Garlic Jr.'s henchmen are named after condiments and spices.

• Garlic Jr. (Gaarikku Jyunia) - A pun on the spice "garlic".

Dead Zone (Ora no Gohan o Kaese!!)[]

• Ginger - Named after the spice.
• Sansho - Japanese word for "Sichuan pepper".

Garlic Jr. Saga[]

• Mustard - Named after the condiment.
• Salt - Named after the spice.
• Spice - Named after the spice.
• Vinegar - Named after the condiment.

Turles' henchmen[]

• Amond - A pun of "almonds".
• Cacao - A pun of "cocoa".
• Daiz - Japanese for "soya bean".
• Rasin - A pun of "raisins".

Kai understudies[]

• Arqua - Named after aqua, "water".
• Caterpy - A pun on "caterpillar".
• Froug - Named after the word "frog".
• Olibu - A pun on "olive".
• Pikkon (Paikuhan) - Literally means "pork-rib rice".
• Papoi - Possibly a pun on the fruit "papaya".

Animals[]

• Puar (Pūaru) - A pun on the Chinese word puh er, a type of tea.
• Oolong (Ūron) - Derives from the Chinese word wulong, which is "amber tea".
• Bubbles - Possibly a reference to American entertainer Michael Jackson's own pet monkey of the same name.
• Korin (Karin) - Derives from karin, the Japanese name for the fruit "chinese quince". His tower, the "Korin Tower" (Karin-tō), is a play on a type of fried dough cake called "karinto" (karintō). Due to the English dubs, his name is also considered to be a pun on "corn".

Miscellaneous[]

• Flying Nimbus (Kinto'un) - In Japanese, probably meaning "candy cloud", kinto meaning "candy" and noun meaning "cloud".
• Emperor Pilaf (Pirafu) - His name is a type of rice dish.
• Tapion - A pun on "tapioca".
• Baby (Bebi) - A pun on "baby".

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