"This Pokémon is ugly... what's its name again?"

Started by Ho-Oh February 3rd, 2011 8:22 AM
  • 2426 views
  • 32 replies
  • Public Poll

Which matters more: Design or name?

Ho-Oh

used Sacred Fire!

Age 31
Female
QLD, Australia
Seen June 5th, 2022
Posted April 23rd, 2022
35,988 posts
17.5 Years
The two major things that contribute towards liking a certain Pokemon is whether they look good, or have an "accceptable" name.

When it comes to you, what factor is most important in your mind? Would you hate a Pokemon that is really ugly but has an awesome name, or hate a Pokemon that is really awesome looking but has a terrible name? Or maybe neither matter and another factor goes into whether you like or dislike a Pokemon. Also, do you think the fans are more likely to remember Pokemon names, or Pokemon designs? What are you more likely to remember? Share your thoughts.

A few of us in a thread in B/W were saying we're more likely to dislike an unappealing Pokemon than dislike it due to its name. And, as a result, I was wondering what the rest of the community thought. For me, it's the design. If a Pokemon has a terrible design, I'm less likely to like it, whereas if it has a bad name, then I eventually get used to it. An example - Lickylicky, terrible design, while I can't think of any bad names off the top of my head that really concern me.

Searched a few times, hopefully isn't already made.

Signomi

Age 32
Female
Britland (United Kingdom)
Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted October 10th, 2022
7,480 posts
17.8 Years
I wouldn't be terribly fond of a Pokemon if I felt its design didn't appeal to me. To save random mobs of people chasing me with pitchforks and torches, I won't name any examples! But it's because of those Pokemon that I am incredibly choosy with who gets to be on my team as I play a game. As for names, I don't really care about them.

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Age 34
Female
Seen March 3rd, 2015
Posted March 15th, 2013
227 posts
13.3 Years
Names have never bothered me when it came to which pokés I liked or disliked. I think design is more of what appeals to me and names are just names. If I don't like a name I usually nickname that pokémon. I don't think I've done that before though because it just didn't ever dawn on me to dislike a pokemon just for it's given name. There are some strange names XD But that doesn't stop me from liking them!
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Age 29
Male
99th Floor in the Silver Trench
Seen July 5th, 2011
Posted February 24th, 2011
184 posts
12.3 Years
I'm not too happy with the names in BW but their designs make up for that for the most part. I'm usually one to give nicknames to my Pokemon if I don't like their original name so names don't play much of a factor for me anyway.

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Oh, I really like this question!

For me it's all about design. While some of the names may come off as stupid it doesn't change my view of the Pokemon. My thinking is, if you hate the name then you can always nickname it something else. If you hate the design then there is literally nothing you can do, but pray for an evolution. I really can't think of one Pokemon whose name bothers me at the moment. I mean some are dumb sounding, but I don't have an issue with any of them. Even with the new Pokemon, I'm already getting used to their names and have practically forgotten their Japanese names.

I tend to remember designs over names so I'm thinking other people might also. For example usually when I'm thinking of a Pokemon, but can't remember which one it is I won't remember the name, but I'll be able to see its design clearly.

blue

gucci

Male
United Kingdom
Seen September 26th, 2021
Posted August 7th, 2019
21,056 posts
15.3 Years
I've never really been too fussy on names, I'm more for designs.
Age 30
Male
Soaring in the sky!
Seen July 5th, 2013
Posted May 26th, 2011
1,696 posts
13.1 Years
Design is the first thing that attracts you to a Pokemon.
If it's got poor design, you won't like it.
If it's got "meh" design, you won't even notice it.
But name is important, in a way. Sure, some Pokemon have great names, but it doesn't really matter much to me.

Lance
the Dragon master


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California
Seen September 13th, 2012
Posted August 8th, 2012
345 posts
14.1 Years
Design is much more important, but the names do matter somewhat to me. For example, I don't really like Leafeon. There's nothing really wrong with its design, but its name was exactly what I came up with when I was 7 years old for a Grass Eeveelution--I should think the grown designers of the game would be able to come up with something more creative, but whatever.

Usually, however, I get used to the names. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to Lickilicky, though--design OR name.
Age 29
Female
Lake of Rage
Seen December 12th, 2015
Posted August 15th, 2012
1,931 posts
13.7 Years
Hmm, well for me, some pokemon both and some neither. Magmortar for example, I dont like its name or its design, but it is such a beast in battle that I even use it at times. Delcatty, I love its design and name, (not very good in battle but I still use it). So it can go either way for me.
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Maruno

Lead Dev of Pokémon Essentials

England
Seen October 22nd, 2022
Posted July 3rd, 2022
5,281 posts
15.3 Years
The design is the most important aspect, to me. I like Pokémon that look like creatures, and dislike those that look like they were designed (including almost all the ones based on inanimate objects - a big dislike of mine). I like Pokémon that look like they could have come about naturally, and dislike "graffiti" (e.g. the Nasca lines on Groudon/Kyogre/Rayquaza, random swirls like those all over the Gen 4/5 Fire starters).

Pokémon should also suit their evolutions/prevolutions. For instance, Snorunt and Froslass look (almost) nothing alike, Gloom's flower is too big to turn into Bellossom, Dragonite is an insult to a beautiful prevolution, Octillery is just no, Clamperl goes way off the rails, and Oshawott lets the rest of its family down. I'm more lenient towards Grass and Bug Pokémon, which are more likely to metamorph drastically (Metapod to Butterfree is just one example).

Of course, this isn't an unshakable opinion. For instance, I quite like Shandella and Chimecho, although I would have preferred it if they look more animal-like and less "ornament-with-a-face". If they were animal-like, then it would make sense that humans created wind chimes to look like Chimecho, and so on.

On a related note, I think all Eeveelutions after the original three just weren't as good. Eeveelutions should have ruffs. And Leafeon should have looked more... leafy than it does. The existence of Leafeon itself, though, is absolutely fine, although it not evolving with the Leaf Stone isn't (I don't care about continuity).

Names have less importance, but they're still up there. I'm sad to see that most Gen 5 names are utter rubbish (Pansage, seriously? Florape is much better, and I just thought that up). Of particular note is Wargle, which was fine as it was, but "brave" was used instead just to make Americans look better. Yes, Braviary is a nice name in and of itself, but I just can't see past its purpose of saving face (propaganda, even?) to accept it.

Something that hasn't been mentioned is types. Types can turn me off a Pokémon just as much as names. They should suit themselves (i.e. no stupid Fire/Water combos) and they should suit the Pokémon. Creatures that can't fly shouldn't be part Flying! How is Jirachi part Steel? It just feels like most of the new type combos in Gen 5 were just for the sake of having those combos. They were too conspicuous (although I will say that some combos are perfectly fine, like the Dragon/X ones, and that nearly every Pokémon seems to suit its type).
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Nateon

Pokemon Will Be Real One Day!

Female
Kent, UK
Seen August 7th, 2015
Posted May 3rd, 2011
89 posts
12.3 Years
I used to base my choices purely on if i liked how the pokemon looked, didn't really look at stats or moves until gen 4 when i properly focuses in on it but i still go for looks
--/My Real Team/--
Are You An Espeon or Umbreon?
Your Result: Espeon
You prefer to be out in the sunlight, maybe harsh at times, but nevertheless popular. You might have a good voice, or awesome at something. You might be scared of the dark, and like white, or light colors.
Result Breakdown:
78% Espeon
60% Umbreon
Please help my pokemon =]

champagnepapi

exile

Male
new england
Seen September 4th, 2016
Posted June 25th, 2016
1,795 posts
12.5 Years
I'd say it's a mix of both design and name, although that is merely opinion, like the fact that the OP stated that Lickilicky
had a terrible design. Design is more important, in my eyes, however. If a favorite Pokemon of mine ends up with a name like "Conkeldurr", or
another name that I'm not fond of, then I'll probably tend to like it less than I initially did.

paired to kaori & vrai

Nateon

Pokemon Will Be Real One Day!

Female
Kent, UK
Seen August 7th, 2015
Posted May 3rd, 2011
89 posts
12.3 Years
Yeah actually come to think of it names can make things worse, i flat out refuse to call Kibago his english name Axew, same for Shimama with Blitzle
--/My Real Team/--
Are You An Espeon or Umbreon?
Your Result: Espeon
You prefer to be out in the sunlight, maybe harsh at times, but nevertheless popular. You might have a good voice, or awesome at something. You might be scared of the dark, and like white, or light colors.
Result Breakdown:
78% Espeon
60% Umbreon
Please help my pokemon =]

Rai

Quarter Life Crisis! @[email protected]

Age 31
Female
Sinnoh
Seen January 4th, 2017
Posted January 4th, 2017
4,521 posts
18.1 Years
I have a tendency to forget the names of pokemon I dislike. It happens all the time actually. Even though there are a lot of new pokemon I love, I have a feeling I'm going to have trouble remembering the names in Black and White... :x


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vaporeon7

My life would suck without you

Male
Preparing for trouble and making it double.
Seen September 6th, 2016
Posted May 27th, 2014
5,143 posts
12.7 Years
Design is everything. Names don't matter that much.

Game Freak didn't give Stunfisk a chance did they.