Goku

Meaning of Goku

Goku is a masculine name of Japanese origin, written with the kanji 悟空 to convey “enlightenment” (悟) and “emptiness” or “sky” (空). It entered global consciousness through Son Goku, the protagonist of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball franchise—itself inspired by the mythic Sun Wukong of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. In Japanese, the name is pronounced goh-koo (/goʊkuː/) and carries connotations of resilience and transformation. While rare in U.S. birth records—with annual occurrences between five and twenty and rankings in the 900s since 2013—Goku has found a devoted audience in Latin American cultures, where Dragon Ball has been a cultural staple for decades. Its associations with heroism, camaraderie and personal growth have made it an emblematic choice for parents seeking a name that combines Eastern literary tradition and contemporary pop culture.

Pronunciation

Japanese

• Pronunced as goh-koo (/goʊkuː/)

• Kai
• Gohan
• Vegeta
• Goten