Pokemon Names

[IcePyro]

I was looking at my brother write down fighting types the other day and came to a sudden realization, Hitmonchan is named after Jackie Chan and Hitmonlee is named after Bruce Lee. Is Hitmontop and Tyrogue named after anything? How many of you guys out there just had a lightbulb pop out of your head about pokemon's names?

 

[Yu_&_Rei]

I had that same thought on hitmonchan and hitmonlee but I cudnt think of any others. Tyrogue must be a Tyrant rogue.

 

[moments.]

Wow that is amazing!
Seriously I never realised that at all.
Hm, I don't think I have ever had an idea like that, maybe I have and forgot about it.

 

[Ikwaylx]

Well yeah. Hitmonchan means "The monster that hits like Jackie Chan." and Hitmonlee means "The monster that hits like Bruce Lee"

Hitmontop? No real correlation, except a spinning top...
So
"The monster that hits like a spinning top"...

As for tyrogue, that is a combination of a tyke, meaning a young and curious boy and rogue, which means someone who goes alone and trains by himself.

 

[Event sammy]

i knew bout hitmonlee and hitmonchan bu tit never accured to me bout tyogue or hitmontop =)

 

[Haza]

Actually people have said that is not where they got their names but I still think so.

 

[DonRoyale]

Hitmonchan: "The Monster That Hits Like Jackie Chan"
Hitmonlee: "The Monster That Hits Like Bruce Lee"
Hitmontop: "The Monster That Hits Like a Spinning Top"
Tyrogue: "The Rogue Tyke"

Tygnon, Hitmonchan's French name, also borrows from Mike Tyson (insert joke about ears here).

 

[Spinor]

I don't see the point in why that naming was chosen if there probably is no such thing in the Pokemon World as a Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee, and hopefully Chuck Norris.

Hitmontop ad Tyrogue were made in Gen II and GenII was semi-rushed.

Plus, imagine the show rating if they had named Hitmontop "Hitmonorris" instead, or Tyrogue as "Chuckrogue". It would've been very disturbing for Misty.

 

[Candace]

And the Japanese name for Hitmontop is "Kapoeraa" (Capoeira), which is a Brazilian fighting style (like Eddie's in Tekken III)

 

[IcePyro]

Like Hitmontop could be like Hitmonmiyagi or something lol.

 

[Carrots]

Hitmonchan is named after Jackie Chan and Hitmonlee is named after Bruce Lee.

Wow, I never realized that. Where have I been?
I guess Hitmontop is Dragoon. Y'know, Tyson Granger's Bit-Beast.

 

[Haza]

And the Japanese name for Hitmontop is "Kapoeraa" (Capoeira), which is a Brazilian fighting style (like Eddie's in Tekken III)

Nice, I kinda always thought that but its sad how it knows one dance move.

 

[Voytek]

I never realizised that I don't know how I missed it.

 

[IcePyro]

Does anyone know about any others? I know of course Muk and Grimer are pretty much muck and grime. Anyone know what Riolu and Lucario's are?

 

[Zennerick]

Pokemon names most often refer to the Pokemon's origins or references. Example: Scizor (Scissor). Some names don't tell the Pokemon's origin or reference at all. One example is Meowth, the name's origin is Meow and the "th" possibly meaning mouth. However, the Pokemon's design is a reference to the Maneki Neko legend. Meowth is also claimed to based off of Satoshi Tajiri's own pet cat.

Does anyone know about any others? I know of course Muk and Grimer are pretty much muck and grime. Anyone know what Riolu and Lucario's are?

Riolu's name is merely Lucario's name with the last syllable placed in the front and the ca part taken out altogether.
^{They probably thought up of Riolu's name at the last minute...}

Lucario's name possibly derives from part of a Japanese spelling of orichalcum in reverse, reflecting its mythical design and Steel-type. It may also refer to Cairo, Egypt, hence "-Cario".

 

[coolcatkim22]

Well why do you think they called them that?
Did you think they just liked the ring of the names and decided to call them that?

 

[Zennerick]

Well why do you think they called them that?
Did you think they just liked the ring of the names and decided to call them that?

Basically, they think up of creative ways to express the origin or reference of that Pokemon in one name.

Reenactment

Creators:
"Hey! I have an idea! Let's name this Pokemon after Bruce Lee. Now all we have to do is put it into a fitted name..."

[highlight][Enter hours of thought here][/highlight]

Creators:
"I've got it! It should be called Hitmonlee!"

 

[IcePyro]

True, true. But I don't think Cairo has anything to do with Fighting ans Steel Types. I think this is really fun just trying to figure out where pokemons origins come up. But, don't you think it's kind of hard for people in Tokyo or somewhere to be guessing english pokemon like Muk and Grimer. Electric type pokemon are usually the easiest to see their origin. (Ex. Electivire, Manetric, Elekid, Voltorb, etc.) Magby Magmar and Magmortar are basically Magma. Magby means magma baby, I know that.

 

[Vrai]

But, don't you think it's kind of hard for people in Tokyo or somewhere to be guessing english pokemon like Muk and Grimer.

Well, Pokémon do have Japanese names first, y'know. We Americans dub them with the names you know as Muk and Grimer and Ekans and Arbok.

Yeah, we're so original. :D

Edit: I've now read through the whole conversation, and wonder why no one's ever noticed that.

Seriously, just about every single Pokémon is like that, with exceptions of ones that kept their Japanese names, such as Pachirisu and Lucario. For example, Squirtle is "squirt turtle", Bulbasaur is "bulb dinosaur", Purugly is "purr ugly". Just think about most of them, and they'll come to you.

 

[coolcatkim22]

Basically, they think up of creative ways to express the origin or reference of that Pokemon in one name.

Yeah I know that. I was asking the creator of the thread.