MoST STiLL uNDeR CoNSTRuCTioN

 

  A lot of the names in the Dragonball story are rooted from storys or other jokes. Below are some of the names and the puns associated with them.   

    Heroes
Goku - Known in the Japenese version as Son Gokou, the main character of DBZ is actually based on the main character in an ancient Chinese legend, His Yu Chi (Shee Yo Ji) or The Record of the Journey West. Son Gokou is the Japenese translation of the Chinese name Son Wukong. Son Wukong was the Monkey King born of stone thousands of years ago. Son Gokou was based on this character, who was generally kind and good willed, but sometimes naive...and dangerous. Without straying too far from the path, the story of Dragon Ball itself is at first based on much of the original legend, and throughout the series, many similarities show up between the two.

Gohan - Gohan is the Japenese word for cooked rice and the suffix for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Once again, being a Saiyan, his name is actually based on a vegetable. Remember that Gohan was named after Goku's grandfather by the same name.

Goten - Pronounced Goteyn, Goku's second son has a pun that relates directly to his father's name. The first character that makes up their name, (Go), is shared. But, 'ku' means sky, and 'ten' means heaven.

Bulma and Family - Bulma is a play on bloomers, which were women's undergarments that were first introduced in the 1800's. As you'll see, everyone in Bulma's family is named after some kind of undergarment. For example, both Dr. Briefs and Trunks are variations of underwear and boxers. While Bulma's daughter, Bra, is, well, you know.

Tien - Known as Tenshinhan in the Japenese version, this is the Japenese pronounciation of the Chinese words, 'Tien Chun Fan', a type of fried rice.

Chiaotzu - Called Chaozu in the Japenese version, it is actually the direct Japenese pronounciation of the Chinese word for 'dumpling'.

Krillin - Even though Krillin isn't really bald, Akira Toriyama loved to make fun of his lack of hair anyway, which is why he called him Kuririn. Kuririn is a variation of the Japenese word, Kurumi, meaning chestnut. Too bad Krillin!

Yamcha - This former bandit's name means 'dim sum' a form of Chinese food that is similar to dumplings.

Master Roshi - Roshi actually has two titles in the Japenese version of dragonball. One is Muten Roshi, which means, Master Roshi. The other is Kame Sennin, which means, Turtle Sage. Everything about Master Roshi has to do with Turtles. Just look at his house! Kame House means, Turtle House!

  Villains
Emperor Pilaf - The little emperor's name is actually a type of Turkish rice dish. It means sauteed, seasoned rice.

Shao and Mai - Even though they're two different characters, the unlucky subordinates of Emperor Pilaf are actually a two-in-one pun. Their names combined, 'shao-mai', is a dim sum dumpling dish.

Piccolo Daimaou and family - Piccolo Daimaou is the evil half of the original Piccolo. He is the 'father' of the Piccolo we all know and love in Drogonball Z (hereafter referred to just simply Piccolo). His name literally means, Piccolo the Great Demon King, or Piccolo Satan, which complements his good half, Kami, which means God. Before giving 'birth' to Piccolo, Daimaou spawned a few other family members. There was Piano, Drum, Tambourine and Cymbal. Everyone in his family is named after a musical instrument of some sort.

Frieza's Family - Frieza, his brother Coola and his father King Cold are all named after chilly things. After all, a good villain should give you the chills.(Ha ha)

Frieza's Men - In the Japenese version of Dragonball Z, all of Frieza's men were named after types of fruit. Like Kiwi, Apple, Raspberry and Blueberry. But, did you know that his two most powerful henchmen were also types of fruit? A Dodoria is a brown fruit about the size of an egg called "Chinese Gooseberry." A Zarbon is a fruit known in America as a pomelo.

The Ginyu Force
Ginyu - A variation of the Japenese word 'gyunyu' that means Milk! That's right! This fighting force is essentially "The Dairy Force!" Wait until you see the names of other members.

Jeice - A play on 'juusu', better known as 'juice'.

Burter - In the Japenese version, Burter's name is Baata, which literally means butter.

Guldo - Known in the Japenese version as Gurudo, this villain's name is a play on 'yoguuruto', or yogurt!

Recoome - In Japan, Rikuumu's name is a jumbled version of 'kurimu', which means cream.

Bibidi - Bibidi is the father of Babidi, and the creator of Boo. As we go along, let's see if you can figure out this one.

Babidi - Babidi is the maniacal son of Bibidi, bent on ruling the universe by resurrecting his father's incredibly dangerous weapon. Have an idea yet?

Boo - The strongest and most mindless villain in Dragonball Z. Okay, let's look at our past three clues. Put 'em together and what have you got? "Bibidi, Babidi Boo!"

Race Related Puns
Saiyan - Known in the Japenese version as Saiya-jin or Saiya People, the word Saiya is a jumbled version of the Japenese word Yasai which means Vegetable. In other words, they are the Vegetable People. Further study will reveal that the name of the race whom the Saiyans obliterated in order to take-over their planet, the Tsufuru-jin, (known as the Tuffles in America), is actually an arrangement of the Japenese word Furutsu or, Fruit. The big joke is, it was the Vegetable People versus the Fruit People. Every Saiyan's name is a play on a vegetable of some sort. The vegetable theme is prevelant in TV Specials and even movies. Ironically the most powerful and evil Saiyan of all time in the Dragon Ball Z movies, Brolly, is a play on the most hated and despised vegetable of all, broccoli! Here are some of the Saiyan name puns in the series.

Vegeta - The prince of all Saiyans is rightly named after his race, vegetable.

Nappa - Vegeta's bodyguard is named after a type of lettuce. Is that inferring that he's got a head of lettuce?

Raditz - Goku's evil brother's name is a play on the word radish. Hmmm, makes sense, both are strong and bitter.

Kakarot - Better known as Goku, this Saiyan who was raised on Earth was born with a name that was a play on the word carrot!

Nameckians - Taken from the Japenese word, 'namekuji', meaning slug, every Nameck has a name that is somehow related to those sliding, slimy creatures. In DBZ Movie 4, they went so far as to call the evil Nameckian villain, Slug.

Dende - This name is from the Japenese word 'den(-?)den-mushi', a term that is used to describe any mollusk of the Gastropod class.

Kargo - Dende's little friend's name is simply part of the French cuisine called Escargot, which is snails! (Ewwww!)

Nail - This one is pretty obvious. It's Nail's name is just 'snail' without the 's'.

Miscellaneous
Jackie Chun - Master Roshi's alter ego is named after the famous and deathdefying actor/stuntman extraordinaire, Jackie Chan. Jackie is a big fan of Dragon Ball, and Akira Toriyama is likewise a big fan of Jackie. Toriyama has even gone on record saying that Jackie's movie Drunken Master 2 (released here as Legend of the Drunken Master), inspired him when he was creating some parts of Dragon Ball Z.

Mister Satan - Although no specific reason has been given, this so-called World Champion is named after the Prince of Darkness.

Vedil - Mr. Satan's daughter is a play on the word Devil. Just rearrange the letters, and you'll get Videl.

Ox King - In the Japanese version, Ox King's name is Gyuu Maou, which means Bull Demon King. He was a character in the Chinese legend His Yu Chi, from which Goku's name is also taken. His wife was a beautiful, (but moody), woman who protected their most prized treasure, a fan that could extinguish any flame. Those of you who are familiar with Dragon Ball should be able to make some connections now.

Bubbles - King Kai's little buddy is named after Michael Jackson's pet monkey.

Oolong - The shape-changing pig's name is derived from the Chinese words, Wu Long. Wu Long litterally means Black Dragon, but it is actually a type of black tea.

Marron (not to be confused with Maron) - Krillin and Number 18's daughter doesn't fair any better than her daddy when it comes to names. A marron is a French Chest-nut.

Pan - Goku's grand-daughter's name means bread, in Japanese and Spanish!

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