What do you think of the Pokemon beta names?

[Jolene]

In the run-up to the release of Pokemon Red and Blue in the US, Nintendo released a bunch of merchandise to promote the series. Some of this merchandise was released before the names of the Pokemon had been finalized, so some of the names used were different from the names that made it into the game. These original names are commonly referred to as "beta" names. Here is a list of all of the known beta names (taken from Glicthcity).

(The beta names are on the right, sometimes with an explanation)

Kakuna - Kokoon
Pidgey - Pidge
Rattata - Rattatak
Ekans - Arbo
Sandslash - Sandstorm
Clefairy - Aria (meaning melody)
Clefable - Ariala (melody with a "la")
Vulpix - Foxfire
Paras - Parasyte
Diglett - Digda
Growlithe - Flamie
Arcanine - Blaze
Abra - Hocus

Kadabra - Pocus
​

Machop - Kara-tee
Machoke - Kung-foo
Machamp - Ju-doh
Tentacool - Jilly
Tentacruel - Man O War (named after a famous jellyfish-like creature)
Rapidash - Gallop
Slowpoke - Slowmo
Magnemite - Coil
Magneton - Recoil
Duduo - Dodo
Dewgong - Manaty (manatee)
Gastly - Spirit
Haunter - Spectre
Gengar - Phantom
Cubone - Orphon
Marowak - Guardia
Lickitung - Tonguetyd
Koffing - Ny (supposedly a reference to the pollution in New York)
Weezing - La (supposedly a reference to the pollution in Los Angeles)
Chansey - Lucky
Tangela - Meduza (Medusa from Greek mythology)
Goldeen - Goldy
Seaking - Neptune (Roman sea god)
Scyther - Stryke
Gyarados - Skulkraken (named after the sea monster, Kraken)
Lapras - Ness (named after the Loch Ness Monster)
Eevee - Eon (all the Eeveelutions names end in eon)
Omanyte - Ess (the first half of escargo)
Omastar - Kargo (the second half of escargo)
Kabuto - Att
Kabutops - Lantis (what does "Atlantis" have to do with Kabutops?)
Aerodactyl - Ptera (references both "pterodactyl" and "terror")
Dratini - -Dragoon
Dragonair - Dragyn

I think that most of the beta names aren't all too inventive and I'm glad that they were changed, but I actually prefer a few of them over the final names. I think that Aria and Ariala are better names than Clefairy and Clefable (and Arietta would have been a great name for Cleffa), and I also like the name Tonguetyd.

What do you think of the beta names?

 

[Niprop]

Flamie? Foxfire? Heh heh heh heh heh, I see why they were changed.

What? FLAMIE is evolving!


Congratulations, your FLAMIE evolved into ARCANINE!

Also:

Lol Sandstorm.

SANDSTORM used Sandstorm!

 

[silverdreams92]

I`m glad they changed them, but I kind of like Guardia.

 

[Timbjerr]

These aren't all too original, but some of the more creative ones make for good nicknames, like Orphon, Guardia, Meduza, skullkraken, and Ptera

 

[Redstar]

Skullkraken was and always will be the most badass Pokemon name that never was.

Looking at the beta names, they're not so bad. Most are more original than their Japanese counterparts... For example, the legendary bird's are named "Freezer", "Thunder", and "Fire". Not really that great, if you ask me.

 

[Ayselipera]

The only one I like is Parasyte, but I read that they changed it because it was same name of a graphic comic.

 

[Amp]

Most of those are downright horrible. I'm glad they figured out new names.

 

[Samme!]

Hahaha this made me crack up. I'm glad Nintendo got some sense knocked into them so they would change the names.

 

[Anxiety.]

Some of them are good. Some...

 

[Lady Gaga]

Skullraken FTW

but WTF is Ny, La, and Blaze? o.o

 

[coolcatkim22]

I like Clefairy's and Clefables's orginal names. Although the clefairy chant would be different.

Also some of the names they stuck with aren't very orginal, I mean ekans and arbok are just cobra (with a k) and snake backwards. Why is that? Why are there names backwards?
I mean, with girafarig it had two heads so it made sense. Eevee and Ho-oh were pronoused the way you spell them.
It just doesn't make any sense.

 

[Åzurε]

yeah, well. I've come not to expect genius for each of the ~500 different species. =/
Skullkraken is teh Osum.

I seem to remember Togetic being Togikachu, and I name my Togepi on Crystal that in remembrance.

 

[The Scientist]

Skullkraken was and always will be the most badass Pokemon name that never was.

Quoted for the truth.

 

[Munch Dog]

Ewww, most of those are pretty bad I'm glad they changed it. Flamie sounds more like a nickname than an actual Pokemon name.

 

[Cherrim]

I like... some of these, but only some. I prefer the current names in all cases but I DO really like Aria/Ariala.

Skullkraken was and always will be the most badass Pokemon name that never was.

This.

 

[~*!*~Tatsujin Gosuto~*!*~]

My ghost these names are horrible, Hocus and then Pocus.............lame much
But The gyarados one is one kckass name



:t354:TG

 

[Timbjerr]

Also some of the names they stuck with aren't very orginal, I mean ekans and arbok are just cobra (with a k) and snake backwards. Why is that? Why are there names backwards?
I mean, with girafarig it had two heads so it made sense. Eevee and Ho-oh were pronoused the way you spell them.
It just doesn't make any sense.

Every name you ragged on in this post, with the exception of Ekans, is an exact transliteration of their Japanese name. XD

Arbok = Abokku
Eevee = Ivui
Ho-oh = Houoh

 

[The Red Chain]

The majority says those names aren't creative, but I dunno, I personally think that some are.
They weren't made up mind you, but the meaning behind some of the beta names is pretty thoughtful in itself.

Such as 'Man O War', 'Hocus', 'Pocus', 'Ptera'.
They each have some interesting meanings behind them that fit the profile of the Pokemon.
But I'm still happy they decided on different names that took a bit more thought.

Then again there are some names that it couldn't have hurt to put more effort into..

 

[coolcatkim22]

Every name you ragged on in this post, with the exception of Ekans, is an exact transliteration of their Japanese name. XD

Arbok = Abokku
Eevee = Ivui
Ho-oh = Houoh

I wasen't ragging on Eevee or Ho-oh. I was saying their names made sense.

 

[Citrinin]

I agree with many others when they say that Skulkraken was an awesome name.

But as for the rest of them... :<