Pokemon Name Meanings

[Natsuki]

Bulbasaur ? bulb(ous) + dinosaur
Ivysaur ? ivy + dinosaur
Venusaur ? venus (fly trap) + dinosaur
Charmander ? char + salamander
Charmeleon ? char + chameleon
Charizard ? char + lizard
Squirtle ? squirt + turtle
Wartortle ? war + tortoise + turtle
Blastoise ? blast + tortoise
Caterpie ? caterpillar + pie (as in 'cutie-pie')
Metapod ? metamorphosis + pod
Butterfree ? butterfly + free
Weedle ? weevil + needle
Kakuna ? cocoon
Beedrill ? bee + drill
Pidgey ? pidgeon
Pidgeotto ? pidgeon
Pidgeot - pidgeon
Rattata - rat
Raticate ? eradicate + rat
Spearow ? spear + sparrow
Fearow ? fear + sparrow
Ekans ? ?snake? backwards
Arbok ? ?cobra? backwards
Pikachu ? pika (Japanese onomotopoeia for "Light Sparks.") + chu (Sound a mouse makes.)
Raichu ? ?rai? (meaning thunder) + chu
Sandshrew ? sand+ shrew
Sandslash ? sand + slash
Nidoran ♀ - needle
Nidorina ? needle + ?a? to distinguish femininity
Nidoqueen ? needle + queen
Nidoran ♂ - needle
Nidorino ? needle + ?o? to distinguish masculinity
Nidoking ? needle + king
Clefairy ? clef (as in music) + fairy
Clefable ? clef + fable
Vulpix ? vulpine (fox) + six (tails)
Ninetales ? nine + tails
Jigglypuff ? jiggly + puff
Wigglytuff - wiggly + ?tough?/tuff as in tuffet/tuft
Zubat - bat
Golbat - gol ("Good as Gold" or gulp.) + bat
Oddish ? odd + radish
Gloom ? gloom or gloom + bloom
Vileplume ? vile + plume
Paras - parasite
Parasect ? parasite + insect
Venonat ? venom + gnat
Venomoth ? venom + moth
Meowth - meow
Persian ? Persian cat
Psyduck ? psychic + duck
Golduck - gol ("Good as Gold.") + duck
Mankey - monkey
Primeape ? primate + ape
Poliwag ? comes from the word "pollywog" (another name for a tadpole; not certain about spelling)
Poliwhirl ? tadpole + whirl
Poliwrath ? tadpole + wrath
Abra ? ?magic? word
Kadabra ? ?magic? word
Alakazam ? ?magic? word
Machop ? macho + chop
Machoke ? macho + choke (as in chokehold?)
Machamp ? macho + champion
Bellsprout ? bell (as in the plant) + sprout
Weepinbell ? weeping + bell
Victreebel ? victory + tree + bell
Tentacool ? tentacle + cool
Tentacruel ? tentacle + cruel
Geodude ? geode + dude
Graveler ? gravel + er
Golem ? a golem
Ponyta ? pony + tail
Rapidash ? rapid + dash
Slowpoke ? a slow poke
Slowbro ? slow + ?brother?
Magnemite ? magnetic + ?mite? (suffix for some metallic materials)
Magneton ? magnet + proton?
Farfetch?d ? derived from ?far-fetched? meaning impossible/unusual
Doduo ? dodo + duo
Dodrio ? dodo + trio
Seel ? seal
Dewgong - dew + dugong (kind of manatee)
Grimer ? grime + slimmer (kind of mold)
Muk ? muck (like mud or grime)
Shellder ? shell + oyster
Cloyster ? clamp + oyster
Gastly ? gas + ghastly
Haunter ? haunt
Gengar ? in Japanese has to do with something you say after you play a prank on someone or Dopplegengar, a ghost that lurks in the shadows and copies people
Onix ? onyx, a type of mineral
Drowzee ? drowsy
Hypno - hypnosis
Krabby ? crab + crabby
Kingler ? king + angler
Voltorb ? volt + orb
Electrode ? an electrode
Exeggcute ? execute + egg
Exeggcutor ? executor + egg
Cubone ? cueball + bone
Marowak - marrow (as in bone marrow) + whack
Hitmonlee ? hitman/ hit + ?mon? as in monster + lee (Bruce Lee)
Hitmonchan ? hitman/hit + mon + chan (Jackie Chan)
Lickitung ? lick + it (?lick it!?) + tongue
Koffing ? coughing
Weezing ? (the name says it all)
Rhyhorn ? rhinoceros + horn
Rhydon ? rhinoceros + ?don? (which means tooth in Latin, used kinda like the way they name dinosaurs)
Chansey ? chancey (as in gambler)
Tangela ? tangle
Kangaskhan ? Genghis Khan (Mongolian leader who took over the largest amount of land ever) + kangaroo
Horsea ? ?sea horse? combined together
Seadra ? sea dragon
Goldeen ? goldfish + queen
Seaking ? sea + king
Staryu ? starfish + you (in the cartoon it seems to say ?hey ya!? as in ?hey you? or ?hey y?all? )
Starmie ? starfish + me (in the cartoon it seems to say ?who?? which kinda responds to what Staru says)
Mr. Mime ? it?s a mime
Jynx ? a jinx
Electabuzz ? electric + buzz
Magmar - magma
Pinsir - pincer
Tauros ? a bull as in ?Taurus?
Magikarp ? magic + carp (despite being a carp, it isn?t very magical)
Gyarados ? ???
Lapras ? derived from its Japanese name "Laplace" named after a scientist who studied the waves...
Ditto ? derived from ?ditto? which basically is a copy of the aforementioned phrase
Eevee - phonetic pronunciation of "EV" the first two letters in "evolve"
Vaporeon ? water vapor + eon
Jolteon ? jolt + eon
Flareon ? flare + eon
Porygon ? polygon (possibly a Japanese Americanized name, because sometimes words with the letters ?ru? translate to ?l? ex. Mariru = Marill)
Omanyte ? an ammonite (an ancient seashell mollusk, looks almost like a nautilus)
Omastar ? ammonite + star
Kabuto ? a kabuto (a Japanese helmet)
Kabutops ? kabuto + tops
Aerodactyl ? ?aero? (prefix for ?air?) + ?dactyl? (suffix for ?wing?)
Snorlax ? snore + relax
Articuno - artic + ?uno? (Spanish for ?one?)
Zapdos ? zap + ?dos? (Spanish for ?two?)
Moltres ? molten + ?tres? (Spanish for ?three?)
Dratini ? dragon + tiny
Dragonair ? dragon + air
Dragonite ? dragon + knight (it represents the dragons that fought knights in the middle ages)
Mewtwo ? ?mew? as in ?meow? + two
Mew ? ?mew? (sound a cat makes)
Chikorita ? Chicory + ita (a Spanish suffix showing a small, feminine, cute, or beloved description of the word added to)
Bayleef ? bayleaf
Meganium ? mega + geranium (a kind of flower)
Cyndaquil ? cinder + quill
Quilava ? quill + lava
Typhlosion ? typhoon + explosion (personally I think it should be something like Volquill)
Totodile ? toddler (tot) + o + crocodile
Croconaw ? crocodile + gnaw
Feraligatr ? feral + alligator
Sentret ? sentry + ferret
Furret ? fur + ferret
Hoothoot ? hoot + hoot?it?s making a noise, like an owl??
Noctowl ? nocturnal + owl
Ledyba ? ladybug ? the ?g?
Ledian ? ladybug + alien
Spinarak ? spinneret + arachnid
Ariados ? arachnid + ???
Crobat ? cross + bat (I've also heard crowbar + bat)
Chinchou - (might have to do something with the Chinese lanterns they send down rivers at certain ceremonies)
Lanturn - lantern
Pichu ? chu + pi (cute or little)
Cleffa ? clef + fa (As in Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do.)
Igglybuff ? iggly (Cute baby word?) + buff (Tough)
Togepi - Toge is the Japanese word for "spike" or "needle"... And I think "pi" means either cute or little... (which explains Pichu)
Togetic - Toge is the Japanese word for "spike" or "needle"... + chick, since its japanese name is Togechikku, and "chikku" could also be written as "chick" (why the official translation is "tic", I have no idea).
Natu - names sound Native American or which makes sense due to the pattern on Natu's stomach; can be part of Aztec language
Xatu - names sound Native American which makes sense due to the pattern on Xatu's stomach; can be part of Aztec language
Mareep ? Mare + sheep
Flaaffy ? fluffy + ?baa?
Ampharos ? amp + pharos (the legendary lighthouse of Alexandria, explains why it is used in the Olivine lighthouse)
Bellossom ? bell + blossom
Marill ? rill + mar (Spanish for "sea")
Azumarill ? azure + rill + mar (spanish for "sea")
Sudowoodo ? pseudo (prefix meaning "kinda, but not quite" or "false") + wood
Politoed ? tadpole + toad
Hoppip ? hop + pip (kind of seed)
Skiploom ? skip + bloom
Jumpluff ? jump + fluff/luff (the act of facing the wind)
Aipom ? ape + palm
Sunkern ? sun + kernel
Sunflora ? sun + flora (meaning flower)
Yanma ? I think it?s the Jap. Name for dragonflies
Wooper ? woop + er
Quagsire ? quagmire + sire
Espeon ? E.S.P. + eon
Umbreon ? umbra + eon
Murkrow ? murk + crow
Slowking ? slow + king
Misdreavus ? mischievous + dread
Unown ? unknown?that?s it?
Wobbuffet ? wobbly + tuffet
Girafarig ? ?giraffe? spelled the same forward and backward (I forgot what those words are called, like the word ?radar?)
Pineco ? pinecone ? the ?ne?
Forretress ? forret (French word for ?forest?) + fortress
Gligar ? glide + ???
Dunsparce ? dune (like a sand dune) + sparce
Steelix ? steel + onyx
Snubbull ? snub + bull
Granbull ? bull + grand
Qwilfish ? quill + fish
Scizor ? scissor
Shuckle ? shuck + huckleberry (because it stores berries in its shell)
Heracross ? Heracles (Hercules) + cross
Sneasel ? sneak + weasel
Teddiursa ? teddy + ursa (means ?bear?)
Ursaring ? ursa + ring
Slugma ? slug + magma
Magcargo ? magma + ?escargot? ([fried] snail)
Swinub ? swine + snub
Piloswine ? ?a plie of? swine (it was the best I had)
Corsola ? coral + ???
Remoraid ? remora + raid/aid
Octillery ? octopus + artillery
Delibird ? delivery + bird
Mantine ? manta + marine
Skarmory ? scar/sky + armor
Houndour ? hound + devour
Houndoom ? hound + doom
Kingdra ? king + dragon
Phanpy ? elephant + impish? (impy)
Porygon2 ? polygon + 2
Stantler ? staring + antler
Smeargle ? smear + beagle
Tyrogue ? tyrant + rogue
Hitmontop ? (see other ?Hitmon?s) + top
Smoochum ? smooch + chum/?em
Elekid ? electric + kid
Magby ? magma + baby
Miltank ? milk + tank
Blissey ? bliss (or blissful)
Raikou ? directly romanized versions of theirapanese names
Entei - directly romanized versions of theirapanese names
Suicune - directly romanized versions of theirapanese names
Larvitar ? larva + tar
Pupitar ? pupa + tar
Tyranitar ? tyrant + tar
Lugia - directly romanized versions of theirapanese names
Ho-oh - comes from Houou, a type of phoenix
Celebi ? celestial + being
Treecko ? tree + gecko
Grovyle ? grove + reptile
Sceptile ? sceptor or forceps + reptile
Torchic ? torch + chick
Combusken ? combust + chicken
Blaziken ? blaz(e/ing) + chicken
Mudkip ? mud + skip (or mudskipper, a kind of fish)
Marshtomp ? march or marsh + stomp
Swampert ? swamp + rampart
Poochyena ? poochy + hyena
Mightyena ? mighty + hyena
Zigzagoon ? zig-zag + raccoon
Linoone ? line + raccoon
Wurmple ? worm + apple
Silcoon ? silk + cocoon
Beautifly ? beautiful + butterfly
Cascoon ? cast/casket + cocoon
Dustox ? dust + toxic
Lotad ? lotus + tadpole
Lombre ? the Spanish word "hombre" actually means "man", which makes sense because the Pokedex says that it looks like a human child...
Ludicolo ? a play on "Rudicolo" the spanish word for rediculous
Seedot ? seed + dot
Nuzleaf ? nuzzle + leaf
Shiftry ? shift + tree
Nincada ? ninja + cicada
Ninjask ? ninja + mask
Shedinja ? shed + ninja
Taillow ? tail + swallow
Swellow ? swell + swallow
Shroomish ? mushroom + ish "like a shroom"
Breloom ? umbrella + mushroom
Spinda ? spin + panda
Wingull ? wing + seagull
Pelipper ? pelican + flipper
Surskit ? surface + skit
Masquerain ? masquerade + rain
Wailmer ? wale + wail + mermaid
Wailord ? wale + wail + lord
Skitty ? skittish + kitty
Delcatty ? delicate + cat + kitty
Kecleon ? romanization of its japanese name, Kakureon; that name comes from kakureru (to conceal oneself) + chameleon
Baltoy ? balance/baltic + toy
Claydol ? clay + doll
Nosepass ? nose + compass
Torkoal ? torch or tortoise + coal
Sableye ? sable + eye
Barboach ? barb + loach
Whiscash ? whisker + catfish
Luvdisc ? love + disk
Corphish ? core + crayfish
Crawdaunt ? crawdad + daunt
Feebas ? feeble + bass
Milotic - ???
Carvanha ? carve + piranha
Sharpedo ? shark + torpedo
Trapinch ? trap + pinch
Vibrava ? vibrate + ???
Flygon ? fly(ing) + dragon
Makuhita - a rank you can achive through Sumo Wrestling
Hariyama - a rank you can achive through Sumo Wrestling
Electrike ? electric + strike
Manectric ? mane + electric
Numel ? numb + camel
Camerupt ? camel + erupt
Spheal ? sphere + seal
Sealeo ? seal + leo
Walrein ? walrus + rein/rain/reign
Cacnea ? cactus + ???
Cacturne ? cactus + nocturne
Snorunt ? snow + runt
Glalie ? glacier + ???
Lunatone ? lunar (moon) + stone
Solrock ? solar (sun) + rock
Azurill ? azure + rill
Spoink ? spring + oink
Grumpig ? grum or grumpy + pig
Plusle ? plus
Minun ? minus
Mawile ? maw + wil(e/y)
Meditite ? meditate (Spelled funny. XD)
Medicham ? meditate + champion
Swablu ? swab + blue
Altaria ? altitude + aria
Wynaut ? derived from the phrase ?why not??
Duskull ? dusk + skull
Dusclops ? dusk + cyclops
Roselia - rose + camelia (kind of flower)
Slakoth ? slack + sloth
Vigoroth ? vigorous + sloth
Slaking ? slack + king
Gulpin ? gulping ? the ?g?
Swalot ? swallow + a lot
Tropius ? tropical + brontosaurus
Chimecho ? chime + echo
Whismur ? whisper + murmur
Loudred ? loud + red/dread
Exploud ? explode + loud
Clamperl ? clamp + pearl
Huntail ? hunt + tail
Gorebyss ? gore + abyss
Absol ? ?the absence of Sol? (basically the opposite of the sun)
Shuppet - shame + puppet
Banette ? banshee + marionette
Seviper ? sever + viper
Zangoose ? zany + mongoose
Relicanth ? relic + coelacanth (an ancient fish, found recently off the coast of Madagascar)
Aron ? iron
Lairon ? lair + iron
Aggron ? aggressive + iron
Castform ? form + forecast
Volbeat ? volt + beat
Illumise ? illuminate
Lilleep ? lilly + weep
Cradily ? crawl/cradle + lilly
Anorith - armor + monolith
Armaldo ? armor + armadillo
Ralts - anagram of "relates" (it relates to its trainer's feelings)
Kirlia ? derived from Kirlian photography, developed by Seymon Kirlian, to photograph the magnetic force each of us gives off (1939)
Gardevoir ? devoir (to have to) + guard
Bagon ? bang (it bangs its head against rocks) + dragon
Shelgon ? shell + dragon
Salamence ? salamander + commence
Beldum ? ?dumbbell? cut in half and then reversed
Metang ? metal + tang (meaning "point")
Metagross ? metal + gross
Regirock ? rock + regicide (to kill a king)
Regice ? ice + regicide (to kill a king)
Registeel ? steel + regicide (to kill a king)
Kyogre ? Kai (meaning God) + Orca (whale)
Groudon ? ground + don (means ?mastadon?)
Rayquaza ? directly romanized versions of their Japanese names
Latias - directly romanized versions of their Japanese names
Latios - directly romanized versions of their Japanese names
Jirachi - Russian word for "wish."
Deoxys ? deoxyribonucleic + s

-------------------
Well there you have it. I've edited this from the older thread. ^^ I used everyone's suggestions from the older thread as well to fill in a few spaces. ^^ Feel free to comment here and post your ideas on some that don't have meanings or are missing parts. ^^

~Kelsey

 

[Sylphiel]

I have some. XD

Poliwag seems to come more from the word "pollywog" (another name for a tadpole; not certain about spelling) than from the actual word "tadpole"...

Kecleon - romanization of its japanese name, Kakureon; that name comes from kakureru (to conceal oneself) + chameleon

Hoppip could also very likely be hop + pip (a name for any kind of small seed).

Ho-oh comes from Houou, a type of phoenix.

Togetic...probably goes to something like "toge" + chick, since its japanese name is Togechikku, and "chikku" could also be written as "chick" (why the official translation is "tic", I have no idea).

And if I may be picky with spelling for a moment...the word for snail in Magcargo's name is spelled "escargot". :P (the 't' is silent)

 

[Natsuki]

Oooh, those are some good ones Cowire. ^___^ I think the Poliwag one will make more sense than it did before. XD I'll edit the others you had as well. =3 I'll edit them into the list. ^o^

*edits*

~Kelsey

 

[Timbjerr]

when this thread was open before, I posted a link to this GameFAQS page, which pretty much explains everything, including many of the blanks Kelsey left above. XD

 

[Natsuki]

Whoa...so I see. XD *pokes Game FAQs* Well there you have it! Use that link to learn about the blanks I left. XD I'd edit the list if only the Game FAQs thing would start working. ;P

~Kelsey

 

[HashiriyaR32]

I'm a user at the GameFAQs meassage boards. Look for my username (Asskicker2004)

 

[Porygon]

when this thread was open before, I posted a link to this GameFAQS page, which pretty much explains everything, including many of the blanks Kelsey left above. XD

Mwar, I saved that ages ago ^_^

 

[Blaziken Trainer]

Thanks, I've been trying to find the more recent ones.

 

[B-Baller]

Theories...

For Cleffa, its probably Clef + Fa (you know, if you take music, you know the 7 notes....Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do)

Meditite is meditate, only its spelled different to make it more interesting. XD

Medicham is meditate + champion.

Deoxys is deoxyribonucleic acid. with an S.

Hope these helps

 

[Ninetales1]

That link doesn't work... I don't think you can direct link to the page.

Anyways, I think there are some corrections to be made...

-The "chu" in the Pikachu family is the sound a mouse makes. And the "pika" comes from a Japanese onomatopeia for the sound of lightning sparks.

-The "ran" in Nidoran could have something to do with monsters or rascals, based on my observations.

-All Pokemon with "dos" in their names are the second of something, whether it's a group or an evolution line. Which makes sense considering the Spanish word for 2.

-Pokemon with "gol" in their names could be comsidered "as good as gold"

Ninetales: Well duh--it has nine tails!
Golbat: The "gol" could come from "gulp"...
Gloom: green bloom?
Mankey: maniac + monkey
Poliwag: The "wag" is there because it has a tail that can wag.
Abra/Kadabra: Hee hee, it's a magic word split in two!
Arbok/Kadabra: I guess the K's in there just to make the name look better.
Snorlax: snore + relax
Igglybuff: Iggly just sounds like a cute baby word... And the "buff" just means it's strong or something, or tough.
Raikou: Again, "rai" means thunder...
Entei: I think it comes from some sort of fire god Inti...
Suicune: The "sui" most likely means "water" or "sea", and the "cune" is just a title or adress, like a mister or something. (kun)
Celebi: The "bi" signifies that it looks kind of like a bug (bee).
Sceptile: sceptor or forceps + reptile
Ludicolo: Its name could also come from "melodic" and "color".
Baltoy: The "bal" could be "ball", since balls are considered toys... And its head is almost ball-shaped.
Feebas: The "fee" could also come from "feed", since you need to feed it Pokeblocks to make it evolve.
Milotic: It could could come from the sculpture Venus de Milo, and the word "exotic"...
Tropius: tropical brontosaurus
Shuppet: It's more likely to be shadow + puppet...
Rayquaza: Considering the fact it lives far away from civilization, it can be compared to a quasar, which is a starlike object in the outer edges of the universe. (quaza)
Latias/Latios: Again, the "as" or "os" signifies gender... And, "osu" also means "male" in Japanese.
Jirachi: I think it's the Russian word for wish...

 

[Natsuki]

Oooooh, you all have great ideas. =O I'll go and add in the new definitions. X3

~Kelsey

 

[Ninetales1]

Oh one other thing I forgot:

Crobat could come from "acrobat" without the first letter. Crobat does fly around stealthily like an "air acrobat" so maybe that's where it got it's name. (It sure makes more sense than crowbar...)

 

[kohei]

My ideas ^^;

Crobat: Cro (Kuro)=Black, Bat=Bat
Suicune: Sui=Water, Cune=Way of addressing a important person (like a tyrant: Boukun/cune)
Entei: En=From KaEn (fire), Tei=Teiou (king)
Raikou: Rai=Thunder, Kou=Koutei (lord)

 

[seraphim]

a pika is a small rodent. magikarp...carp, by some generic japanese legend, turn into dragons once they reach they swim to the top of a waterfall...that explains gyarados or whetevr it's name is...there is indded an actual insect called a weedle that burrows under skin... and relicanth is a play off the coelocanth, an ancient fish thought to have gone extinct until living specimen were found in 1930 something

 

[The S]

Deoxys is deoxyribonucleic acid. with an S.

WOO-HOO! Finally, some recognition!

And Girafarig is a palindrome.

The rodent "pika" has nothing to do with Pikachu, and, as I've heard on a nature show, is pronounced "Pai-ka". Also, according to my Japanese dictionary, "pika pika suru" means "glittering" or "sparking".

 

[leader clair]

why dont you know garados's name :(

 

[Natsuki]

Well...umm...I'm sorry? XD I just don't really have any ideas for what Gyrados should be, that's all. ^^; But once I find out I'll put it in the thread. :33

OK, I'm editing the other suggestions that see more fit than the ones already there. ^o^

~Kelsey

 

[Periwinkle~]

For Togepi there's another meaning, but it's in korean. There's this little goblin called Dogebi and it has three spikes at the top of its head and that kinda explains Togepi. And for Ho-oh, there's this colorful Hawaiin bird called a Oh-oh and that also kinda explains Ho-oh.

 

[kohei]

And for Ho-oh, there's this colorful Hawaiin bird called a Oh-oh and that also kinda explains Ho-oh.

I think Ho-Oh comes from the Japanese, 鳳凰 (Houou), which bascially means a phoenix.

 

[tropicove]

you know theres a rodent called the pika so you could be right about it being japanesse. But it makes more sence that Pikachu's (a rodent) name comes from the Mouse Pika, heres a image of it...

isn't it cute? It even looks kinda like Pikachu. The nose is only slightly off the face , the eyes aren't to small or really big there in the middle, the back legs are even big at the end. The Pika also stands on it's back legs and looks even more like a pikachu!