5 Shocking Ways The Dragon Ball Wiki Handles 'Deadnaming'—And Why Vegeta Is The Ultimate Culprit

The concept of "deadnaming" has unexpectedly become a hot topic in the Dragon Ball fandom, not due to a canonical transgender character, but through the long-running feud between Goku and Vegeta. As of December 15, 2025, the discussion revolves around whether Vegeta’s persistent use of Goku’s Saiyan birth name, Kakarot, constitutes an in-universe form of deadnaming, and how the official Dragon Ball Wiki navigates this complex naming politics. This article dives deep into the fan theories, the wiki's policies, and the broader implications of identity and name changes within the franchise’s vast lore, offering a fresh, current perspective on a surprisingly sensitive subject.

The term "deadnaming" refers to calling a transgender or non-binary person by their birth name after they have chosen a new one, often to invalidate their gender identity. While the Dragon Ball universe does not feature an explicitly transgender main character, the dynamic between the Saiyans, particularly the names Goku and Kakarot, serves as a fascinating, albeit often humorous, proxy for this discussion among the community and on platforms like the Dragon Ball Fandom Wiki. The core issue is how the wiki balances the character’s preferred name against their canonical birth name.

The Kakarot/Goku Divide: Fan Debate and Naming Entities

The most prominent entity at the heart of the "deadnaming" discussion is, without a doubt, Son Goku, or as he was named at birth, Kakarot. Vegeta, the Prince of all Saiyans, is the character who most consistently and aggressively uses the birth name, a practice that has fueled thousands of hours of fan discussion and analysis.

• The Facts Of Life Cast Where Are Eastlands Girls Now 2024 Updates 2tx8p

For many fans, Vegeta’s insistence on using "Kakarot" is a deliberate act of psychological warfare and cultural superiority. He uses the name to constantly remind Goku of his Saiyan heritage, his "true" purpose as a warrior, and to deny the identity of "Goku," the Earth-raised hero. This is where the analogy to deadnaming gains traction: Vegeta is attempting to invalidate the identity Goku has chosen for himself.

• Kakarot: Goku's Saiyan birth name, used almost exclusively by Vegeta and other Saiyan antagonists.
• Son Goku: His chosen Earth name, reflecting his identity as a protector of Earth and a martial artist.
• Vegeta: The primary "culprit," who views "Goku" as a weak, Earth-tainted identity.
• Broly: A notable exception; Goku explicitly tells Broly he can call him Kakarot, complicating the "deadnaming" analogy.
• Bardock: Goku's biological father, who gave him the name Kakarot.

However, the comparison is often considered an imperfect analogy. Unlike a transgender person who is genuinely distressed by their deadname, Goku rarely seems bothered by "Kakarot." In fact, in the movie *Dragon Ball Super: Broly*, Goku tells the titular character that he can call him Kakarot, suggesting a level of acceptance, or at least indifference, that invalidates the deadnaming comparison for some.

How the Dragon Ball Wiki Navigates Naming Conventions

The Dragon Ball Wiki, as the central repository of franchise information, faces the challenge of documenting all canonical names without endorsing one over the other. Their approach to character entries is a masterclass in managing canonical data while respecting the primary identity of the character.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

The wiki’s policy, while not explicitly about a transgender deadnaming controversy, follows strict rules for documenting names, which has the practical effect of mitigating potential deadnaming issues:

1. Primary Name as Article Title

The article for the main character is titled "Goku," not "Kakarot." This immediately establishes the character’s preferred and most widely recognized name as the primary identity. The birth name, "Kakarot," is relegated to a parenthetical mention in the opening sentence and a dedicated section in the biography. This structure prioritizes the current, chosen identity over the birth name.

2. Use of Redirects and Aliases

The wiki uses redirects, meaning if a user searches for "Kakarot," they are immediately taken to the "Goku" page. This ensures that the primary identity remains the central focus, even when searching for the former name. This is a common wiki practice that inadvertently mirrors the respectful use of a person's current name.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

3. Detailed Saiyan Naming Lore

The wiki dedicates extensive space to explaining the Saiyan naming conventions, which are based on vegetables (Kakarot is Carrot, Vegeta is Vegetable). This context is crucial, as it shows that the name change is not a personal gender identity choice but a cultural shift from a warrior race name to an Earth name. This distinction is vital for a nuanced understanding of the debate.

Beyond Kakarot: Other Entities and Identity in Dragon Ball

While the Goku/Kakarot dynamic dominates the fan conversation, the broader themes of identity and name changes extend to other characters and races, further solidifying the topical authority of the wiki on naming entities.

The Namekians, a race of beings that are biologically agender and reproduce asexually, present another interesting case study in non-binary identity. Characters like Piccolo and Dende do not adhere to traditional gender norms, leading some fans to speculate about their potential non-binary nature.

Similarly, the fusion technique introduces temporary new identities with new names, such as Vegito (Vegeta + Kakarot/Goku) and Gogeta (Goku + Vegeta). These characters represent a complete merger of identities, creating a distinct, third persona that is not a simple combination of the two. The wiki treats these fusion names as unique, official names, further emphasizing the importance of a character's chosen or resulting name.

Other entities with multiple names or titles include:

• Frieza's Race: Often referred to by their species name rather than individual names, suggesting a different cultural view on identity.
• Majin Buu: A creature whose identity and name change dramatically based on his absorption and transformation (Kid Buu, Super Buu).
• Mr. Satan/Hercule: A character who uses a stage name (Mr. Satan) that is different from his canonical name (Mark in the Japanese version, Hercule in the Funimation dub), highlighting the difference between a public persona and a true identity.

The continuous fan discussion surrounding "deadnaming" in Dragon Ball, primarily focused on the Kakarot/Goku split, demonstrates a profound engagement with the themes of identity and self-determination within the franchise. The Dragon Ball Wiki's structured, data-driven approach to documenting all canonical names serves as the neutral ground, allowing fans to debate the cultural and emotional weight of a name while maintaining factual accuracy.

Ultimately, while Vegeta’s use of "Kakarot" may not be true deadnaming in the strict sense, it is an undeniable act of disrespecting a chosen identity, making the Vegeta/Goku rivalry a surprisingly relevant cultural touchstone for discussing the power of a name in modern fandom.