Goku ranks 1855 in the pet registry with 54 male animals. It is almost entirely a Dragon Ball Z name — Son Goku, the Saiyan warrior who spends several decades powering up, protecting Earth, and wearing an orange gi. For anime fans of a certain generation, naming a pet Goku is a statement of fundamental allegiance.
The Dragon Ball Z Reference
Dragon Ball Z ran from 1989 to 1996 and has maintained a second and third life through streaming, reboots, and continued cultural transmission. Goku is the archetypal Shonen hero: relentlessly optimistic, always training, more interested in becoming stronger than in winning. A large, energetic dog named Goku is pulling from exactly those character attributes. Shiba Inus and Japanese breeds carry the name with obvious visual coherence. Browse anime-origin pet names for the full cluster.
Sound Energy
GO-ku. Two syllables, clean and punchy. It calls easily at distance, sounds like an action command without being one, and has a bounce that suits high-energy animals. The name is practical regardless of the fandom context.
The Counter-Reading: Generational Fandom Signal
Goku is very specifically a Millennial and older Gen Z anime reference. It signals clearly which cultural formation the owner grew up in. That's not a problem — it's honest branding. But owners who want a Japanese-sounding name without the specific anime attachment should consider Toki or Toshi, which appear in this same batch.