Name Analysis

Kakarotto

This is Goku's saiyajin name or given name at birth. Following the trend of saiyajin's being named after vegetables, Goku's name is no different in seeing that the name 'Kakarrot' is a pun of the vegetable 'carrot'. At first thought, one might think that this name was given to him by his father, Baadaku (Bardock) or possibly his mother (who was never shown in either manga or anime). However, after watching the TV Special, it seems like (in my opinion anyway) that Bardock had no knowledge of his son's name (he wasn't even really aware that he'd been born). After all, upon first seeing him, he struggled a bit with the pronunication of his name. (Of course you could argue that Bardock just wasn't very educated but I think the latter is true.) It could have also been Goku's mother that could have named him. However, since she never actually had a role in the series, I doubt that she named him. My guess is that a saiyajin (possibly the two saiyajins shown above) named him.

• For more information on Goku's name Kakarrot, click here.

Goku

Upon landing on Earth, Goku is soon found by an elderly man named Son Gohan. After finding baby Goku, Gohan decides to 'adopt' the baby and name him. After a moment of pondering, Gohan looks toward the sky as he lifts Goku up toward the sky. It is then that he decides on a name. Goku, meaning 'the sky'. And so Son Goku is named. (Son, being his adoptive last name.)