Americans who grew up with Pokémon are so used to the creatures, it's easy to forget these beloved, iconic names of species vary internationally. Japan is the country from whence Pokémon sprang forth, but an American and Japanese fans might struggle to have a conversation about Pokémon relying on names alone, since some of them are so different. Even in Generation 1 alone, Pokémon names in Japan are often completely different from their English counterparts.
Even names from the TV show differ in the Japanese original. American audiences are used to Ash, Brock, and Misty, yet Japanese audiences journey with (in order) Satoshi, Takeshi, and Kasumi. However, Pokémon's mascot, the loveable Pikachu, stays consistent. The name is a portmanteau of two Japanese onomatopoeias: pikapika for something sparkly, and chuuchuu for the sound a mouse makes, so Pikachu's name actually makes a lot of sense.
Several other Pokémon have names with origins just as interesting. Some, like Pikachu, are clever puns or descriptive portmanteaus (Charmander's Japanese name, Hitokage, translates directly to "fire lizard"), and many others borrow from English words (Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres are Freezer, Thunder, and Fire). The linguistics and backstories behind many Japanese Pokémon names are fascinating. A comprehensive list of Japanese Pokémon names can be found on Bulbapedia, and the following translations and explanations come courtesy of Bulbapedia, Jisho.org, and the author's own experience with the Japanese language.
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Bulbasaur
The Japanese language is fantastic at generating brilliant puns, and Bulbasaur's name - フシギダネ (Fushigidane) - is an excellent example. Fushigi has no direct English equivalent, as it means "strange," "wonderful," and "mysterious" all in one. Tane means "seed," referring to Bulbasaur's signature bulb. However, a ten-ten, which turns softer sounds into harder sounds, has been added to transform tane into dane. This one-character difference also happens to turn Bulbasaur's name into a sentence meaning, "Strange, isn't it?"
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Blastoise
The final evolution of one of Pokémon's original starters, Squirtle, Blastoise's Japanese name, カメックス (Kamekkusu, or "Kamex") is another portmanteau, but there's debate on its second half. Kame is the word for "turtle." Mekku could be referencing giant robotic mechs, which share a design with Blastoise's signature cannon, though this is a more common English term. On another level, Makkusu in Japanese means "maximum." Altogether, Blastoise could be the "maximum mech turtle," which sounds about right.
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Spearow
In the first episode of the Pokémon anime, Ash/Satoshi hits a Spearow with a rock. This Spearow then brutally attacks Ash and Pikachu and later brings all its friends, creating a life-threatening situation some believe put Ash in a coma. Although Spearow may not be the most menacing Pokémon anymore, its Japanese name, オニスズメ (Onisuzume), reflects the designers' intensions for this to be a frightening bird. Onisuzume literally translates to "Demon Sparrow." (Fearow is Onidoriru, or "Demon Drill.")
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Metapod
Caterpie and Butterfree have the same name in Japanese and English, Metapod and トランセル (Toranseru, or "Transel") achieve the same meaning for their respective languages. Toransu means "transformer" (in the electrical sense), and also "trans" in the "change or transform" sense as a prefix for other English-derived words. Seru means "cell." The combined "transforming cell" makes sense for a cocoon. Some have additionally posited that Toranseru is a pun on randoseru, which are firm, boxy leather backpacks often used by Japanese schoolchildren.
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Jigglypuff
Even though Jigglypuff is an obvious movie star, it may have one of the more eyebrow-raising English names of gen one. "Jigglypuff" paints the image a cute, round ball which would likely bounce right back if you poked it. That abstracted image brings to mind a perfect, fluffy desert - like pudding. And so, Jigglypuff's Japanese name is プリン (Purin) - literally, "Pudding."
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Gloom
"Gloom" feels like the English developers were enforcing a mood upon this poor Pokémon. Others have guessed that "Gloom" refers to how this Pokémon's odor makes those around it feel. Regardless, Gloom's Japanese name is disarmingly straightforward by comparison: クサイハナ(Kusaihana) translates directly as "stinky flower." (Oddish's name, Nazonokusa, means something along the lines of "puzzling grass.")
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Poliwag
One of the biggest differences between Japanese and English is that Japanese onomatopoeias don't describe just sounds, but also sights, textures, and emotions. Popular Pokémon cutie Poliwag and its evolutionary line all share the root "nyoronyoro," which refers to something slithering or wiggling - like a wet tadpole! Poliwag's name, ニョロモ (Nyoromo), combines this onomatopoeia with the word for child, kodomo.
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Abra / Kadabra / Alakazam
Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan are the most famous Pokémon named after celebrities, but the Japanese names of Abra's evolutionary line make clear they were all inspired by famous magicians. In evolutionary order, they're named ケーシィ(Keeshi, or "Casey") for Edgar Cayce, ユンゲラー (Yungeraa, or "Yungerer") for Uri Geller, and フーディン (Foodin) for Harry Houdini and Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. Uri Geller was so furious his likeness was used for a "evil, occult Pokémon character," he sued Nintendo. It took 20 years for Kadabra to appear on Pokémon cards again.
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Lickitung
Every single language acknowledges Licktung's distinguishing feature. The Japanese name ベロリンガ (Beroringa) contains multiple levels of tongue puns. Bero by itself means "tongue." "Berobero" is an onomatopoeia for licking, while "berori" is the sound of a slurp. "Ringa" could also refer to "lingua," which means tongue in Italian and more academic English.
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Magmar
Magmar's Japanese name is ブーバー (Buubaa), which Nintendo officially romanizes as "Boober." This is apparently in homage to the booby, a bird which may have inspired Magmar's design. The ending "baa" could be an additional play on "burn." But there's no getting around the English language associations which naturally arise from hearing the word "Boober," so this one was unlikely to ever have survived localization.
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Magikarp
In Japanese, Magikarp may have the one of the best names of all Pokémon, in any language. Pokémon fans know that Magikarp is hopelessly weak. Magikarp can't even swim in Isle of Armor. Its signature move, Splash ("Hop" in Japanese), does zero damage and doesn't even make contact with the opposing Pokémon. The koi fish, a variety of carp, is also a symbol of strength in Japan, giving Magikarp's Japanese name some satisfying thematic irony: コイキング - Koi King.
Surprising Japanese Pokémon Names: Snorlax
Snorlax is a Pokémon whose name, カビホン (Kabigon), is an inside joke. According to Kotaku Australia, Kabigon is the real-world nickname of Pokémon developer Koji Nishino. Kabi means "mold," and Nishino earned his nickname with his tendency to eat food which had gone moldy. Gon can be a name, such as in Hunter X Hunter's Gon Freecss. Gon is also a possible reading of the kanji (Chinese-derived, non-phonetic character) for "gold." Either way, the gon makes clear that Kabigon is a term of affection. Snorlax was designed after Nishino, too.
When a franchise becomes as much of an international success as Pokémon, there are bound to be regional differences in translation and interpretation. The localization of Pokémon names reflects a lot about the language in question. In the case of Pokémon's native Japanese, an endlessly endearing playfulness shines through.
Source: Bulbapedia, Jisho, Kotaku Australia