Name Puns
Saijins:
*Note: Most saiyajins' names have to do with vegetables. Goku and Goten have to do with the sky, and Goku, his tail, and his nyo-boi are all coincidental with monkeys. Akira Toriyama got the idea for Son Gokuu by the Chinese fairy tail/legend of the monkey king with his staff (and of course his tail). When Son Goku is written out in Chinese, it looks like monkey. This is where all of this monkey stuff came from*
The Briefs:
  • Bra: Pun on bra
  • Bulma: Pun on bloomers, which is an athletic type of womens' underwear
  • Dr. Briefs: Pun on briefs, men's underwear
  • Trunks: Pun on trunks, the underwear
*Note: As you can see, the Brief family has to do with underwear. This is why Trunks is listed here, even though he is a saiyajin.*
Nameks:
  • Cymbol: Pun on cymbal, the musical instrument
  • Dende: Pun on dendenmushi, which means snail
  • Kargo: Pun on escargot, the French word for snails
  • Nail: Pun on snail
  • Piano: Pun on piano, the musical instrument
  • Piccolo: Pun on piccolo, the musical instrument
  • Slug: Pun on slug
  • Tamborine: Pun on tamborine, the musical instrument
*Note: Piccolo and his gang all have to do with different instruments. The other namekians are punned with slugs and snails.*
The Ginyu Tokusentai:
  • Baata: Pun on butter
  • Ginyu: Japanese for milk
  • Jeice: Pun on cheese
  • Gurudo: Pun on yogurt, because yoguruto is Japanese for yogurt
  • Recoome: Pun on cream
*Note: As you can see, the Ginyu Tokusentai are all puns of dairy products.*
The Colds:
  • Cooler: Pun on cooler
  • Freezer: Pun on freezer
  • King Cold: Pun on cold
*Note: As you can see, these all have to do with coldness.*
Freezer's/Freeza's Henchmen:
  • Dadoria: Pun on doria, which is Japanese for a tasty dish. It is also a pun on durian, which is bad-smelling fruit
  • Kuwi: A Chinese Fruit
  • Zarbon: Pun on zarbon, a citrus fruit
*Note: Freezer's henchmen's names come from fruits.*
Mr. Satan's Family:
  • Mr. Satan: Satan
  • Videl: The letters for devil rearranged
Buu and co.:
  • Bibidi, Babidi, Buu: The song in Cinderella... you know?
Gods/Lords:
  • Dai-kaio: God/Lord of one galaxy
  • Dai-kaioshin: Supreme god/lord of the universe
  • Enma-daio: Known in Japanese folklore as the lord and judge of the dead
  • Kaio-sama: Means Lord of the Worlds
  • Kaioshin: Rules four galaxies
  • Kami-sama: Means Lord of the Earth/Planet
Miscellaneous:
  • Cell: Obviously a pun on the cell
  • Kuririn: Means chestnut
  • Lunch: Pun on launch, due to her launching into her different personalities
  • Marron: Means chestnut paste
  • Oolong: Chinese for wulong, or "amber tea"
  • Pilaf: Japanese for rice dish
  • Puar: A type of tea
  • Tenshinhan: A type of fried rice
  • Yamcha: Means dim sum in Chinese


The American Names The Japanese Names
Android ____ Jinzonigen ____ Gou
Bulma Buruma, Buluma, Bulma
Burter Baata, Bahta
(Captain) Ginyu Ginyu, Ginew, Gyunyu
Chi Chi Chi Chi
Child of Kataat Katassu
Dr. Briefs Burifusu, Dr. Briefs
Freeza, Frieza Freezer
General Tao Tao Pai Pai
Gohan Son Gohan
Goku Son Gokuu (Toei), Son Gokuh (Toriyama)
Guldo Gurudo
Guru Saichirou-sama ("The Eldest Namek")
Hercule Mr. Satan
Jeice Jeice, Jees
Supreme Kai Kaioshin
Kakarot, Kakkarot Kakarotto
King Kai Kaio-Sama, Kaiou-Sei
King Yamma Enma Dai-o
Krillin Kuririn
Master Roshi Kame-Sen'nin (the serious form is Muten Rôshi)
Nimbus Kinto'un (Candy Cloud is sometimes used in fansubs)
Ox King Gyuu-Maou
Paikon Paikuhan
Power-Pole Nyo-boi
Raditz Radditz
Recoome Rikum, Recoome, Rikoom
Tien Tenshinhan, Tienshinhan
Trunks Turunkusu
(Sea) Turtle? Umigame
Vegeta Bejita, Vegita, Vegeta
Were Monkey/Giant Ape Oozaru
Yamcha Yamucha, Yamcha