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Pokémon Name Origins

Vipera Magnifica

Vipera Magnifica

Aquatic Artiste
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Pokémon Name Origins

I think Game Freak has always been quite clever in their naming conventions. Some of the portmanteau names are more obvious than others (i.e. Voltorb = "Volt" + "Orb"), but many are much less conspicuous. For example, the name for Sawsbuck is formed from the acronym S.A.W.S (Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring) and buck/sawbuck.

I've found Pokémon etymology to be quite interesting. I often take the names for granted and miss some names that seem rather obvious in retrospect (such as Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon). When I do realize them, it seems like quite the epiphany. I'd be interested to hear if some of you have had a similar experience.
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

I still remember the day of my first Spanish lesson at school and learned the numbers. Straight away thought of the legendary birds. Actually helped me to learn the Spanish numbers :grin:

Sawsbuck I did eventually work out on my own, shortly after realising it changed appearance with the seasons I assumed its name could be something to do with it.

One I always pondered was Ho-oh. I think I looked it up once and 'ho' means 'phoenix' I think. It is one of the more bizarre names
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

Just yesterday, I was thinking and realized that wow, numel means numb camel.

It was a life-changing revelation. I had to go sit down.
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

Deerling being deer+darling. At least, that's what I think it is. Makes more sense than my first guess, which was deer+underling.
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

I was reading Bulbapedia's attempts to figure out Vanillite's name when I came to the realization, wow, those three are like delite, delish, deluxe! It was amazing.
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

Oh, I love these.

Elgeyem and Beeheyem come from abbreviations, L.G.M. (Little Green Man) and B.E.M. (Bug Eyed Monster), both of which are slang terms for aliens.

Bisharp- Bishop + Sharp.
Gallade- Gallant + Blade.
Beartic- Bear + Artic
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

sv_01 said:
But it's not a Fire-type....
Click to expand...

It was sarcasm ;)

I've always liked looking up the name origins. Kangaskhan's name supposedly comes from kangaroo + Genghis Khan, for some reason; also Palkia comes from 'paaru', a Japanese-isation of our word 'pearl' - And obviously DIAlga comes from diamond. Interesting!
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

Gardevoir pretty much translates in french to 'watch over', which is basically the theme of Gardevoir anyway. Don't they, like, protect their trainer at any cost, even if it means self-sacrifice?
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

What I don't get is why sometimes they just don't decide to really do anything with names?? Like, what does Lapras mean? I guess 'lap' because you sit on it... ... ?

They clearly try pretty hard sometimes to come up with something neat-sounding, so it's pretty weird. Maybe sometimes they just need to take a break.
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

Cirrus said:
What I don't get is why sometimes they just don't decide to really do anything with names?? Like, what does Lapras mean? I guess 'lap' because you sit on it... ... ?

They clearly try pretty hard sometimes to come up with something neat-sounding, so it's pretty weird. Maybe sometimes they just need to take a break.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure Lapras also refers to Laplace.
 
Re: Pokémon Name Origins

I tend to see "majestic" in Milotic... That's the way dragon-like things are beautiful. And Mismagius definitely sounds like "mysterious".
 
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