Bleach - explain the name?

[Greywing]

OK, basic question that I've been unable to find even a reference to - why the hell is Bleach called Bleach? It doesn't seem to fit any aspect of the series. I used to think that there'd been a mistake made in the R/L pronunciation similarity in Japanese, since 'Breach' would kind of make sense <Hollows breaching into the human world> but that doesn't seem to be the case.

So, any ideas, preferrably backed up with evidence?

[Lego]

The creators were heard mumbling "at least it's a better name then Fruit Baskets and I, My, Me Strawberry Eggs" before going back into their bomb shelter".

[Vicserr]

I thought it was because of Ichigo's bleaching accident that left his hair orange :P

[jolieve]

I thought the same thing as Vicserr!

[kit-kat]

^Ichigo's hair is naturally orange. I'm pretty sure its called Bleach because Tite Kubo is a huge Nirvana fan and named the manga after the album Bleach.

[Ty]

If true then it makes quite a bit more sense than most anime/manga series names.

[Andrew Cunningham]

I always assumed it game from bleached bones, bones being the traditional appearance of reapers.

[Pachi]

Well, the only place in the series that "bleach" has any significance is how other kids would pick on Ichigo because they'd think he bleached his hair orange (even though the issue is really only addressed once, in a flashback even). So I'm guessing it's just some tiny something-or-other about the main character that the name of the series identifies with, for the reasoning of why it's called "Bleach".

That, and the Nirvana album thing.

[BonifaceVIII]

Trying to figure out anime names is an exercise in futility and frustration.

[Lumberjack]

It's Tite Kubo's favorite drink. :P

[rescue_dogs_every_day]

Maybe he wanted to name it after the Nirvana album, but needed a reason to have the series actaully called Bleach...So he took the main character, gave him orange hair, made the "I was made fun of because my hair's orange so kids thought I bleached it" thing appear, and there you have it; It connects somehow. Unless maybe something happens at the end of the series having to do with Bleach.

[Thanatos]

In addition to the hair joke, I thought it was referring the purification of souls: bleach not only removes color but also disinfects, which is what the reapers do.

[Sensuifu]

Trying to figure out anime names is an exercise in futility and frustration.

as evident in FLCL.

[HitokiriShadow]

I think Tite Kubo said somewhere that he named it after the Nirvana album, but I'm not sure on that. There are several theories for how it relates to the story and I'm in the camp that thinks it relates to the purification of Hollows.

[zaldar]

I expect he just liked the album and we are overthinking it. This isn't ghost in the shell where every word is loaded with two or three meanings its a fun action Anime. I mean you can't really debate the title of Naruto it just sounds cool. Same with Love Hina.

(Yes I know Naruto is the name of the main character but the name has no meaning beyond that)

[Thanatos]

(Yes I know Naruto is the name of the main character but the name has no meaning beyond that)

You are mistaken. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naruto_%28disambiguation%29)

Notice that Naruto's favorite food is ramen, which contains naruto in it. Plus, notice Naruto's last name, Uzumaki (whirlpool) and his spiral-based rasengan.

[zaldar]

So I am nice find. One of his attacks is also based on spiraling chakrua. Interesting find thanks!