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The Pokémon Peninsula > Name Origins

Here's a brief list of the Pokémon's name origins - it's not complete yet, but will be when I have time to sit down with dictionaries in several languages and work them out XD. Feel free to correct any of my conjectures, I must have been half-asleep when I wrote some of them (I originally wrote "metabolism" for Metapod) and it doesn't help that I've never seen some of these Pokémon XD. Thanks also to Gary - um, I mean CyberRaichu XD - and HiKaizer. Oh yes, and my annoying younger brother who insisted on helping XD. Props.

1. Bulbasaur - bulb + dinosaur
2. Ivysaur - ivy + dinosaur
3. Venusaur - Venus fly trap (fly-eating plant) + dinosaur
4. Charmander - to char is to burn + salamander (a lizard that, according to legend, lives in fire)
5. Charmeleon - to char is to burn + chameleon (a colour-changing lizard)
6. Charizard - to char is to burn + lizard
7. Squirtle - squirt (eg. water) + turtle
8. Wartortle - war (fighting) + tortoise + turtle
9. Blastoise - blast + tortoise
10. Caterpie - caterpillar + ?
11. Metapod - metamorphosis + pod
12. Butterfree - butterfly + free
13. Weedle - weed + needle
14. Kakuna - cocoon
15. Beedrill - bee + drill
16. Pidgey - pigeon
17. Pidgeotto - pigeon
18. Pidgeot - pigeon
19. Rattata - rat
20. Raticate - rat + eradicate
21. Spearow - spear + sparrow
22. Fearow - fear + sparrow
23. Ekans - "snake" spelled backwards
24. Arbok - "cobra" spelled backwards with a letter change
25. Pikachu - "pikapika"=flashing (Japanese) + "chuuchuu"=noise a mouse makes (Japanese)
26. Raichu - "raiu"=thunderstorm (Japanese) + "chuuchuu"=noise a mouse makes (Japanese)
27. Sandshrew - sand + shrew
28. Sandslash - sand + slash
29. Nidoran (f) - ?
30. Nidorina - ? + -ina=feminine suffix
31. Nidoqueen - ? + queen
32. Nidoran (m) - ?
33. Nidorino - ? + -ino=masculine suffix
34. Nidoking - ? + king
35. Clefairy - clef (symbol in music) + fairy
36. Clefable - clef (symbol in music) + fable
37. Vulpix - vulpes=fox (Latin)
38. Ninetales - it has nine tails with spelling difference
39. Jigglypuff - jiggly + puff (it puffs up)
40. Wigglytuff - wiggly + tough
41. Zubat - ? + bat
42. Golbat - gold (?) + bat
43. Oddish - odd + radish
44. Gloom - it's gloomy
45. Vileplume - vile (smell) + plume
46. Paras - parasite
47. Parasect - parasite + insect
48. Venonat - venom + gnat
49. Venomoth - venom + moth
50. Diglett - dig + -let=small suffix
51. Dugtrio - dug + trio
52. Meowth - meow (sound a cat makes)
53. Persian - type of cat
54. Psyduck - psychic + duck
55. Golduck - gold + duck
56. Mankey - man + monkey
57. Primeape - prime=first + ape
58. Growlithe - growl + lithe
59. Arcanine - arch (head/boss, like an archbishop) + canine
60. Poliwag - poly=many + wag
61. Poliwhirl - poly=many + whirl
62. Poliwrath - poly=many + wrath
63. Abra - from "abracadabra alakazam"
64. Kadabra - from "abracadabra alakazam"
65. Alakazam - from "abracadabra alakazam"
66. Machop - macho + chop
67. Machoke - macho + choke
68. Machamp - macho + champion
69. Bellsprout - bell + sprout
70. Weepinbell - weeping (like a weeping willow) + bell
71. Victreebel - victory + bell
72. Tentacool - tentacle + cool
73. Tentacruel - tentacle + cruel
74. Geodude - geo=earth (Greek) + dude
75. Graveler - gravel
76. Golem - a golem is a man-shaped figure made out of clay
77. Ponyta - pony + ?
78. Rapidash - rapid + dash
79. Slowpoke - the nickname given to someone who is very slow
80. Slowbro - slow + "bro", a nickname
81. Magnemite - magnet + "ite", a suffix
82. Magneton - magnet + ton, a unit of mass
83. Farfetch'd - from farfetched
84. Doduo - dodo (extinct bird) + duo=two
85. Dodrio - dodo (extinct bird) + trio=three
86. Seel - seal
87. Dewgong - dew + dugong (a type of sea animal)
88. Grimer - grimy
89. Muk - muck
90. Shellder - shell + chowder
91. Cloyster - cloister + oyster
92. Gastly - ghastly
93. Haunter - haunt
94. Gengar - ?
95. Onix - onyx (a type of stone)
96. Drowzee - drowsy + "z" (like when you snooze: zzzZZZzzz)
97. Hypno - hypnotism
98. Krabby - crab + crabby
99. Kingler - king + angler (?)
100. Voltorb - volt (an electrical unit) + orb (a sphere)
101. Electrode - electrode (helps complete an electric circuit in some experiments)
102. Exeggcute - execute + egg + cute
103. Exeggutor - executor + egg
104. Cubone - cute (?) + bone
105. Marowak - marrow (inside your bones) + whack (?)
106. Hitmonlee - hit + monster + Bruce Lee (a martial-arts movie star)
107. Hitmonchan - hit + monster + Jackie Chan (a martial-arts movie star)
108. Lickitung - lick + tongue
109. Koffing - coughing
110. Weezing - wheezing
111. Rhyhorn - rhino + horn
112. Rhydon - rhino + don (in charge)
113. Chansey - chancy
114. Tangela - tangle
115. Kangaskhan - kangaroo (Australian mammal) + Genghis Khan (ancient barbarian)
116. Horsea - horse + sea
117. Seadra - sea dragon
118. Goldeen - goldfish + queen
119. Seaking - sea + king
120. Staryu - star + you
121. Starmie - star + me
122. Mr. Mime - mime (acting without words)
123. Scyther - scythe (a sharp farming implement)
124. Jynx - jinx
125. Electabuzz - electric + buzz
126. Magmar - magma
127. Pinsir - pincer + sir
128. Tauros - Taurus (the bull star-sign)
129. Magikarp - magic + carp
130. Gyarados - gyara=sea serpent
131. Lapras - ?
132. Ditto - "ditto" means "me too"
133. Eevee - evolution (EV)
134. Vaporeon - vapour
135. Jolteon - jolt
136. Flareon - flare
137. Porygon - polygon
138. Omanyte - ammonite (ancient shelled sea creature)
139. Omastar - ammonite + star
140. Kabuto - "kabutomushi"=stag beetle (Japanese)
141. Kabutops - "kabutomushi"=stag beetle (Japanese) + top
142. Aerodactyl - aero + pterodactyl
143. Snorlax - snore + relax
144. Articuno - Arctic + "uno"="one" in Spanish
145. Zapdos - zap + "dos"="two" in Spanish
146. Moltres - molten + "tres"="three" in Spanish
147. Dratini - dragon + tiny (?)
148. Dragonair - dragon + air
149. Dragonite - dragon + "ite"
150. Mewtwo - mew + two for the clone
151. Mew - looks like a small cat
152. Chikorita - chicory (a kind of spice)
153. Bayleef - a bay leaf (from a tree)
154. Meganium - mega + geranium
155. Cyndaquil - cinder + quill
156. Quilava - quill + lava
157. Typhlosion - ? + explosion
158. Totodile - total (?) + crocodile
159. Croconaw - crocodile + gnaw (?)
160. Feraligatr - feral + alligator
161. Sentret - sentry + ferret
162. Furret - furry + ferret
163. Hoothoot - sound an owl makes
164. Noctowl - nocturnal + owl
165. Ledyba - ladybird + ?
166. Ledian - ladybird + Indian (?)
167. Spinarak - spin + ?
168. Ariados - arachne + ?
169. Crobat - ? + bat
170. Chinchou - ?
171. Lanturn - lantern + turn (?)
172. Pichu - "piipii"=whistling/piping (Japanese) (?) + "chuuchuu"=noise a mouse makes (Japanese)
173. Cleffa - clef (symbol in music) + fa (note in music)
174. Igglybuff - ? (Possibly a play on words to rhyme with its evolutions)
175. Togepi - ?
176. Togetic - ?
177. Natu - ?
178. Xatu - ?
179. Mareep - ? + sheep
180. Flaaffy - fluffy + ?
181. Ampharos - amphora (?)
182. Bellossom - blossom + belle (beauty)
183. Marill - ?
184. Azumarill - azure (blue colour) + ?
185. Sudowoodo - ? + wood
186. Politoed - poly=many + toad + toe
187. Hoppip - hop + up (?)
188. Skiploom - skip + loom (for spinning cotton)
189. Jumpluff - jump + fluff
190. Aipom - ?
191. Sunkern - sun + kernel
192. Sunflora - sun + flora (plants/flowers)
193. Yanma - ?
194. Wooper - ?
195. Quagsire - quagmire (swamp) + sire
196. Espeon - ESP (extrasensory perception)
197. Umbreon - umbra (shadow) (Latin)
198. Murkrow - murky + crow
199. Slowking - slow + king
200. Misdreavus - mischievous + dreamer
201. Unown - unknown
202. Wobbuffet - wobbly + buffet
203. Girafarig - giraffe spelt forwards (giraf) then backwards (farig)
204. Pineco - pinecone
205. Forretress - fortress + forest
206. Dunsparce - dun=greyish-brown + sparse (lacking in detail) (?)
207. Gligar - glide + ?
208. Steelix - steel + onyx
209. Snubbull - snub-nosed + bull terrier
210. Granbull - grand + bull terrier
211. Qwilfish - quill + fish
212. Scizor - scissors + ?
213. Shuckle - shuck=shell + turtle
214. Heracross - Heracles (Hercules) + ?
215. Sneasel - sneaky + weasel
216. Teddiursa - teddy + ursa=bear (Latin)
217. Ursaring - ursa=bear + ring
218. Slugma - slug + magma
219. Magcargo - magma + cargo
220. Swinub - swine (pig) + nub (snout)
221. Piloswine - pile/d (?) + swine
222. Corsola - coral + ?
223. Remoraid - remora (type of fish that suctions onto ships and other fish) + raid
224. Octillery - octopus + artillery
225. Delibird - delight + bird
226. Mantine - manta ray (type of fish) + tiny
227. Skarmory - scar/scavenger (?) + armoury
228. Houndour - hound + dour
229. Houndoom - hound + doom
230. Kingdra - king + dragon
231. Phanpy - elephant + ?
232. Donphan - don (in charge) + elephant
233. Porygon2 - polygon
234. Stantler - stag + antler
235. Smeargle - smear + ?
236. Tyrogue - tai chi + rogue
237. Hitmontop - hit + monster + spinning top
238. Smoochum - smooch (kiss) + ?
239. Elekid - electric + kid
240. Magby - magma + baby
241. Miltank - milk + tank
242. Blissey - bliss
243. Raikou - "raiu"=thunderstorm (Japanese) + "kousen"=light (Japanese) (?)
244. Entei - "enten"=blazing sun/heat of the day (Japanese)
245. Suicune - ?
246. Larvitar - larva + ?
247. Pupitar - pupa + ?
248. Tyranitar - tyrant + ?
249. Lugia - ?
250. Ho-Oh - ?
251. Celebi - ?
252. Treecko - tree + gecko
253. Grovyle - grove + ?
254. Sceptile - sceptre (?) + reptile
255. Torchic - torch + chick
256. Combusken - combust + chicken
257. Blaziken - blazing + chicken
258. Mudkip - mud + kipper
259. Marshtomp - marsh + stomp (?)
260. Swampert - swamp + ?
261. Poochyena - pooch + hyena
262. Mightyena - mighty + hyena
263. Zigzagoon - zigzag + raccoon
264. Linoone - line + raccoon
265. Wurmple - worm + crumple (?)
266. Silcoon - silk + cocoon
267. Beautifly - beautiful + butterfly
268. Cascoon - ? + cocoon
269. Dustox - dust + toxin
270. Lotad - lotus + pad
271. Lombre - ? + hombre
272. Ludicolo - ludicrous + ?
273. Seedot - seed + ?
274. Nuzleaf - nuzzle (?) + leaf
275. Shiftry - shifty + ?
276. Taillow - tail + swallow
277. Swellow - swell + swallow
278. Wingull - wing + gull
279. Pelipper - pelican + flipper
280. Ralts - ?
281. Kirlia - ?
282. Gardevoir - guard + reservoir (?)
283. Surskit - ?
284. Masquerain - masquerade + rain
285. Shroomish - mushroom
286. Breloom - ? + mushroom
287. Slakoth - slack + sloth
288. Vigoroth - vigorous + sloth
289. Slaking - slack + king
290. Nincada - ninja + cicada
291. Ninjask - ninja + mask
292. Shedinja - shed (a cicada sheds its shell) + ninja
293. Whismur - whisper + demur (?)
294. Loudred - loud + ?
295. Exploud - explode + loud
296. Makuhita - ?
297. Hariyama - ?
298. Azurill - azure (blue colour) + ?
299. Nosepass - nose + pass
300. Skitty - skitty + kitty
301. Delcatty - delicate + cat
302. Sableye - sable (black) + eye
303. Mawile - maw + crocodile
304. Aron - ? + iron
305. Lairon - lair + iron
306. Aggron - aggression + iron
307. Meditite - meditate + medicine
308. Medicham - medicine + ?
309. Electrike - electric + strike
310. Manectric - ? + electric
311. Plusle - plus
312. Minun - minus
313. Volbeat - ?
314. Illumise - illuminate + ?
315. Roselia - rose + ?
316. Gulpin - gulping
317. Swalut - swallow + lot
318. Carvahna - carve + piranha
319. Sharpedo - shark + torpedo
320. Wailmer - whale + wail + ?
321. Wailord - whale + wail + lord
322. Numel - nubian (Nubia is a region in southern Egypt/northern Sudan) + camel
323. Camerupt - camel + erupt
324. Torkoal - tortoise + coal
325. Spoink - spring + boing + oink
326. Grumpig - grumpy + pig
327. Spinda - spot + spiral + panda
328. Trapinch - trap + finch (?)
329. Vibrava - vibration
330. Flygon - fly + dragon
331. Cacnea - cactus + ?
332. Cacturne - cactus + ?
333. Swablu - cotton swab + blue
334. Altaria - altitude + ?
335. Zangoose - zany + mongoose
336. Seviper - sever + viper
337. Lunatone - luna (moon) + ?
338. Solrock - sol (sun) + rock
339. Barboach - barb + roach (?)
340. Whiscash - whisper (?) + cash (?)
341. Corphish - corpse (?) + fish (?)
342. Crawdaunt - crawl + daunt
343. Baltoy - balance + toy
344. Claydol - clay + doll
345. Lileep - lily + sheep (?)
346. Cradily - cradle (?) + lily
347. Anorith - ?
348. Armaldo - armour + ?
349. Feebas - feeble + ?
350. Milotic - ? + hypnotic
351. Castform - cast + form
352. Kecleon - ? + chameleon
353. Shuppet - shifty + puppet
354. Banette - bane + "ette" meaning "little" - little bane
355. Duskull - dusk + skull
356. Dusclops - dusk + Cyclops (a race of one-eyed giants from Greek legend)
357. Tropius - tropical + ?
358. Chimecho - chime (like a wind chime)+ ?
359. Absol - absolute (?)
360. Wynaut - ?
361. Snorunt - snore + grunt (?)
362. Glalie - glacier + ?
363. Spheal - sphere + seal
364. Sealeo - sea + leo=lion ==> sea lion
365. Walrein - walrus + reign (?)
366. Clamperl - clamp + pearl
367. Huntail - hunter + tail
368. Gorebyss - gore + abyss
369. Relicanth - relic + coelacanth
370. Luvdisc - love + disc
371. Bagon - baby + dragon
372. Shelgon - shell + dragon
373. Salamence - salamander + ?
374. Beldum - ?
375. Metang - ?
376. Metagross - ? + gross=big
377. Regirock - regent + rock
378. Regice - regent + ice
379. Registeel - regent (?) + steel
380. Latias - ?
381. Latios - ?
382. Kyogre - ? + ogre (?)
383. Groudon - ground + don (in charge)
384. Rayquaza - ?
385. Jirachi - ?
386. Deoxys - deoxyribonucleic acid (the full name of DNA)