The name Pulham is thought to mean the farmhouse, homestead or enclosure by the pool, water meadow or stream.

The neighbouring parish and village was historically known as "Pulham Saint Mary the Virgin" after the dedication of its own parish church, though it is these days typically abbreviated to Pulham St Mary.

As of 2019, the village has a primary school, a doctors' surgery, two pubs (The Crown and The Falcon), a shop/post office, and several other community facilities.

[5] As of May 2024, the 36A/B bus service run by FirstGroup links the town of Harleston and Norwich City Centre, passing through the village;[6] on weekdays there is a limited 584 service to Diss, run by Simonds CountryLink.

Pulham Market once had its own station on the Waveney Valley Line which is now closed.