Origins of Dragon Ball Z Characters' Names

Saiyan (Saiya-jin)- In Japanese, saiya is formed by rearranging the syllables of the Japanese word yasai which means "vegetable".


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 "Burdock".

Borgos (Totepo)- A pun on "potato".

Broly (Burorī)- A pun on "broccoli".

Cabe (Kabe)- A pun on "cabbage".

Fasha (Seripa)- In Japanese, formed by rearranging the letters in "parsley".

Gine- Derives from negi (葱), the Spring Onion in Japanese.

Kakarot (Kakarotto)- Goku's birth name, an interesting mutation of "carrot".

Nappa- A Japanese term for greens in general, especially grape leaves. Also a form of cabbage, keeping with other Saiyans using English words as the source of their names.

Onio (From Neko Majin)- A pun on "onion".

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-').

Raditz (Radditsu)- Derives from "radish".

Scarface (Panbukin)- In Japanese, panbukin is a pun on "pumpkin".

Shorty (Brocco)- A pun on "broccoli".

Shugesh (Panbukin)- In Japanese, panbukin is a pun on "pumpkin".

Tora (Toma)- A shortening of "tomato".

Turles (Tāresu)- In Japanese, formed by rearranging the syllables in "lettuce".

Bulma (Buruma)- Means "bloomers". Also Japanese for short gym shorts worn by girls.

Dr. Brief- Pun on "briefs", a type of men's underwear.

Mrs. Brief- Pun on "briefs", a type of men's underwear. Not said in the anime but Akira Toriyama stated if he were to give her a name, she would be named "Panchy", a pun on panties.

Trunks/Future Trunks (Torankusu)- Boy's underwear, gym shorts, also known as boxers.

Bulla (Bura)- A shortening of "brassiere" or "wonderbra".

Mr. Satan (Hercule)- Mr. Satan, the character's name in the Japanese and English dub films and uncut English dub, refers to the Devil, Satan. His first name, Mark (マーク, Maaku) is a romanization of a rearrangement of akuma, Japanese for "devil."
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Miguel- means "Archangel".

Videl (Bīderu)- Formed by rearranging the letters in the word "devil".

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 the Namekian language, piccolo means "another world".

Piccolo (Pikkoro Jr.)- 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.

Namekian (Nameksei-jin)- In Japanese, namek is a shortening of the Japanese word namekuji which means "slug".


Katas- derives from kattatsumuuri, a Japanese word for "snail".

Moori- derives from kattatsumuuri, a Japanese word for "snail".

Lord Slug- Named after "slug".

Dende- Derives from denden-mushi, which is another Japanese word for "snail".

Cargo- A pun on the French word escargot, which means "snail".

Nail- A pun on "snail".

Majin- Can be translated as "demon". Ma (魔) means evil or demon. Jin (人) means human or person. It is also sometimes translated as "genie" (i.e. Viz's translation of the manga uses "djinn")


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)- Derived from the famous incantation, "Abracadabra".

Yakon- Derived from the incantation, "Tekumaku Mayakon" in the anime series Himitsu no Akko-chan.

Pui Pui- Derived from the famous Japanese incantation, "Chichin-Puipui". In the English version of the manga translated by Viz, he is called Pocus, which is derived from the famous incantation, "Hocus Pocus".

Chilled (Chirudo)- A pun on "chill".

King Cold (Korudo Daiō)- Also refers to low temperatures.

Cooler (Kūra)- A pun on "cooler".

Frost- A pun on lower temperatures

Frieza (Furīza)- A pun on "freezer".

Kuriza (From Neko Majin)- Frieza's son. Like Krillin, the pun on his name is derived from kuri, or chestnut. This breaks the tradition of Frieza's family members' names being taken from terms for "cold", although an element of the play on the word "Freezer" is still in the name, as "Furiza" is another way Frieza's name is spelled.

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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".

Cui (Kiwi)- A pun on the fruit "kiwi".

Appule (Apūru)- Named after the fruit "apple".

Orlen- A pun on the fruit "orange".

Napple- A pun on the fruit "pineapple"

Blueberry- Named after the fruit.

Namole- Possibly a pun on "guacamole", an avocado-based food dip.

Raspberry- Named after the fruit.

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".

Salza (Sauza Taichō)- The English verbal translation is a pun on the Spanish sauce "salsa". Also "Thousar" in pronunciation, a pun on "Thousand Island" salad dressing.

Dore (Dōre)- Derives from the "saradore" salad dressing.

Neiz (Neizu)- A pun on "mayonnaisse".

Miira- A pun on the word "mirai" which means "future".

Towa- Named after the word "towa" which means "eternity".

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

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

Ginger- Named after the spice.

Sansho- Japanese word for "Sichuan pepper".

Nicky (Nikki)- Japanese word for "Cinnamon".

Mustard- Named after the condiment.

Salt- Named after the spice.

Spice- Named after the spice.

Vinegar- Named after the condiment.

Amond- A pun of "almonds".

Cacao- A pun of "cocoa" and a Latin word for chocolate.

Daiz- Japanese for "soya bean".

Rasin- A pun of "raisins".

Lakasei- A pun of rakasei (落花生), "peanut".

Bojack- Derived from the Japanese word bōjakubujin, which means "arrogance" or "audacity" or "outrageous behavior".

Bujin- Based off the second part of boujakubujin, the same word used for Bojack's name.

Kogu (Gokua)- Based off the Japanese word gokuaku or from gokuakubidou, meaning "heinous" or "extreme evil" or "inhuman".

Bido- Based off the Japanese word hidō or gokuakubidou, the same word used for Kogu's name, meaning "inhuman" or "unjust".

Zangya- Based off the Japanese word zangyaku, which means "cruelty" or "brutality".

Beerus- Intended to be a pun of the word "virus", his name can also be a pun on the word "beer".

Whis- Thought to be with the theme of an alcoholic drink, he was named after "whiskey". His name is also a pun on the word virus.

Champa- A pun on the alcoholic drink "champagne".

Vados- A pun on the alcoholic french drink "calvados".