Information – Name origins

 

1. Bulbasaur: Dinosaur with a bulb on his back.

2. Ivysaur:  Dinosaur with an ivy on his back.

3. Venusaur: Dinosaur with a ‘Venus fly trap’ on his back.

4. Charmander: Charcoal + Salamander

5. Charmeleon: Charcoal + Chameleon

6. Charizard: Charcoal + Lizard

7. Squirtle: Squirt (referring to his water-squirting ability) + Turtle

8. Wartortle: War + tortle (A portmanteaux between turtle & tortoise)

9. Blastoise: Blast (referring to his water-blasting ability) + tortoise

10. Carterpie: From caterpillar

11. Metapod: Metamorphis + pod

12. Butterfree: A free butterfly

13. Weedle: Worm + Needle

14. Kakuna: From cocoon.

15. Beedrill: Bee + drill

16. Pidgey: From Pidgeon.

17. Pidgeotto: From Pidgeon

18. Pidgeot: From Pidgeon.

19. Rattata: Rat + attack

20. Raticate: Rat + eradicate

21. Spearrow: Spear + Sparrow

22. Fearrow: Fear + Sparrow

23. Ekans: Snake backwards

24. Arbok: Kobra backwards

25. Pikachu: Pika (Japanese word meaning blinking/flashing) + Chu (the onomatopoeic word for the noise a  mouse makes)

26. Raichu: Rai (Japanese word for thunder) + Chu (the onomatopoeic word for the noise a  mouse makes)

27. Sandshrew: Sand + Shrew

28. Sandslash: Sand + Slash

29. Nidoran: From Needle

30. Nidorina: Nido (from Needle) + Nina (Spanish word for girl)

31. Nidoqueen: Nido (from Needle) + Queen

32. Nidoran: From Needle

33. Nidorino: From Nido + Nino (Spanish word for boy)

34. Nidoking: Nido (from Needle) + King

35. Clefairy: Clef + Fairy

36. Clafable: Clef + Fable

37. Vulpix: Vulpine + Six

38. Ninetales: Refering to its nine tales.

39. Jigglypuff: Refering to its puffiness.

40 Wigglytuff: Wiggly + tough

41. Zubat: Zubatto is a Japanese onomatopoeic word for an object hitting its target.

42. Golbat: Golden + Bat

43. Oddish: Odd + Raddbish

44. Gloom: Gloom.

45. Vileplume: Vile + plume

46. Paras: Parasite

47. Parasect: Parasite + Insect

48. Venonat: Venom + Gnat

49. Venomoth: Venom + Moth

50. Diglett: Dig + Piglett

51. Dugtrio: Dug + trio

52. Meowth: Meow + Mouth

53. Persian: Persian

54. Psyduck: Psychic + Duck

55. Golduck: Gold + Duck

56. Mankey: Man + Monkey

57. Primeape: Primate + Ape

58. Growlithe: Growl + lithe

59. Arcanine: Arcane + canine

60. Poliwag: From Pollywog

61. Poliwhirl: Pollywog + Whirl

62. Poliwrath Pollywog + Wrath

63. Abra: Abrakadabra

64. Kadabra: Abrakadabra

65. Alakazam: Alakazam is supposedly a magical word

66. Machop: Macho + chop

67. Machoke: Macho + choke

68. Machamp: Macho + champion

69. Bellsprout: Bell + sprout

70. Weepingbell: Weeping + bell

71. Victreebel: Victory + tree + bell

72.  Tentacool: Tentacle + cool

73. Tentacruel: Tentacle + cruel

74. Geodude: Geology + dude

75. Graveler: Extension from Gravel

76. Golem: A ‘colossal man of mud’ in Hebrew

77. Ponyta: Extension from Pony

78. Rapidash: Rapid + dash

79. Slowpoke: Slowpoke is an American figure of speech referring to someone who is slow (mentally and/or physically).

80. Slowbro: A reference to the Shellder on its tail, which symbolizes a brotherly band.

81. Magnemite: Magnet + mite

82. Magneton: Magnetron

83. Farfetch’d: Far + fetched.

84. Doduo: Dodo + Duo

85. Dodrio: Dodo + Trio

86. Seel: Seal

87. Dewgong: Dugong

88. Grimer: Extension of Grime

89. Muk: Muck

90. Shellder: Shell + Shelter

91. Cloyster: Clam + Oyster

92. Gastly: Ghastly

93. Haunter: Haunter

94. Gengar: DoppelGanger

95. Onix: Onyx

96. Drowzee: Drowsee

97. Hypno: Hypnosis

98. Krabby: Crab + Crabby

99. Kingler: King + angler

100. Voltorb: Volt + orb

101. Electrode: Electrode

102. Exeggcure: Egg + Execute.

103. Exeggutor: Egg + Executor

104. Cubone: Cub + bone

105. Marowak: Marrow + whack

106. Hitmonlee: Hit + Bruce Lee

107. Hitmonchan: Hit + Jackie Chan

108. Lickitung: Licking + Tongue 

109. Koffing: From Coughing

110. Weezing: From Wheezing

111. Rhyhorn: From Rhino + horn

112. Rhydon: From Rhino + don

113. Chansey: From Chance

114. Tangela: From Tangled

115. Kangaskhan: Kangaroo + Genghis Khan

116. Horsea: Sea + Horse

117. Seadra: Sea + Dragon

118. Goldeen: From Goldfish

119. Seaking: Sea + King

120. Staryu: Star + You

121. Starmie: Star + Me

122. Mr Mime: Referring to its miming ability

123. Scyther: Referring to its scything arm.

124. Jynx: From reference to the witch Jynx in past Japanese culture.

125. Electrabuzz: Electronic + buzz

126. Magmar: Magma + Mar

127. Pinsir: From Pinser

128. Tauros: The Latin word for bull

129. Magikarp: Magic + Carp

130. Gyarados: From the Japanese word 虐殺 (gyakusatsu), which means slaughter.

131. Lapras: From Pierre-Simon Laplace.

132. Ditto: From the Latin word Dictum.

133. Eevee: From Evolution

134. Jolteon: From Jolt

135. Vaporeon: From Vapour

136. Flareon: From Flare

137. Porygon: Made from Polygons

138. Omanite: From ammonite

139: Omastar: From ammonite + star

140. Kabuto: Japanese word for helmet.

141. Kabutops: Japanese word for helmet + tops (a suffix in many dinosaur names)

142. Aerodactyl: From Pteradactyl

143. Snorlax: Snore + relax

144. Articuno: Artic + uno (one)

145. Zapdos: Zap + dos (two)

146. Moltres: Molten + tres (three)

147. Dratini: Dragon + tiny

148. Dragonair: Dragon + air

149. Dragonite: Extension of dragon.

150. Mewtwo: Mew + two

151. Mew: From New

 

Back to Information

Back to top