ブルマ
Your name
Bulma
in Japanese
The default way to write Bulma in Japanese is ブルマ — a phonetic katakana spelling that captures the sound and signals, instantly to a Japanese reader, that the name comes from elsewhere. But katakana is only one of three answers Japanese gives to a foreign name.
Below, we show all three. First the official katakana. Then a set of meaning kanji chosen to express what Bulma actually means at the root — From the Dragon Ball character Bulma, whose name comes from 'bloomers' (gym shorts) — the Toriyama family naming convention of underwear-themed names. Finally a set of ateji, the playful tradition where the kanji match the sound and tell their own small story underneath.
Katakana — Phonetic
How Bulma is most commonly written in Japanese — used on official documents, business cards, and signage.
Meaning Kanji — Etymology
"Bulma" means: From the Dragon Ball character Bulma, whose name comes from 'bloomers' (gym shorts) — the Toriyama family naming convention of underwear-themed names. Symbolically associated with intelligence, curiosity, adventurousness, and bold inventiveness.
聡舞
Satomai
聡 (sato) = wise, quick-witted, intelligent — reflecting Bulma's genius inventor nature; 舞 (mai) = dance, flutter — capturing her lively, adventurous spirit
夢冒
Yumebou
夢 (yume) = dream, vision — her endless curiosity and aspirations; 冒 (bou) = venture, brave forth — referencing her role as an adventurer who seeks the Dragon Balls
智蕾
Chirai
智 (chi) = wisdom, intellect — her scientific brilliance; 蕾 (rai) = flower bud — youthful potential blossoming, echoing her growth across the saga
Ateji — Sound + Meaning
Where the sound matches and the kanji tell their own small story. The Edo scholars and modern manga authors both played this game.
舞瑠真
Buruma
舞 (bu) = dance, flutter — playful energy; 瑠 (ru) = lapis lazuli, blue gem — a nod to her iconic blue hair; 真 (ma) = truth, genuine — sincere heart beneath the bravado
夢琉魔
Buruma
夢 (bu, playful reading) = dream — her visionary spirit; 琉 (ru) = precious blue stone — mystical aqua tone; 魔 (ma) = magic, sorcery — a mystical twist hinting at the Dragon Balls' supernatural power
歩瑠舞
Buruma
歩 (bu) = walk, step forward — journeying across the world; 瑠 (ru) = azure jewel — radiant blue beauty; 舞 (ma, playful reading) = dance — graceful, lively motion through every adventure
Not sure which form to use?
Katakana, meaning kanji, and ateji each belong to a different part of Japanese life — official paperwork, calligraphy and gifts, signatures and wordplay. Our full guide walks through when to reach for each one.
Read the guide: the three ways to write your name in Japanese →
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