{"id":129813,"date":"2022-11-16T15:15:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T15:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/#article-141148"},"modified":"2022-11-16T15:15:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T15:15:00","slug":"talking-point-do-you-name-your-pokemon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2022\/11\/16\/talking-point-do-you-name-your-pokemon\/","title":{"rendered":"Talking Point: Do You Name Your Pok\u00e9mon?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/div>\n
\"Pokemon\"<\/a>
Image: Nintendo Life<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With every improvement and addition that each new mainline Pok\u00e9mon<\/strong> entry brings, there are a handful of features that remain unchanged since the launch of the franchise more than 25 years ago: the ability to heal up at a Pok\u00e9mon Centre, the appearance of the “technology is incredible” guy, and \u2014 of course \u2014 the option to give your beloved Pocket Monsters nicknames.<\/p>\n

During the first few generations of Pok\u00e9mon, the notion of giving each and every one of your partners its own unique nickname might have seemed reasonably doable. Now that we’re heading into the ninth generation of the franchise with Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet and Violet<\/a>, however, there are near-enough 1000 of the beggars to keep track of, so it got us thinking: Do players still go to the effort of nicknaming them all?<\/em><\/p>\n

A bunch of writers at Nintendo Life put across their own thoughts on the matter below, and we’d love to hear from you, too. Do you still do it? Have you never done it? Go on, pop your vote in the poll at the bottom of this page and let us know your nicknaming habits \u2014 and, perhaps, some choice examples in the comments. We’ve all had a Pikachu named ‘Steve’, right? Right!?…<\/p>\n

Kate Gray, Staff Writer<\/h3>\n
\"Pokemon<\/a>
Image: Nintendo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I name all my Pok\u00e9mon, except the ones I know I’m going to throw away \u2014 I mean, set free \u2014 when I’m doing things like shiny hunting or IV breeding. And I don’t do those very often, so pretty much all<\/em> my Pok\u00e9mon have names.<\/p>\n

When I was a kid, it was a diminutive version of their real names (Chicky for Chikorita) or a description of their form (Birdy for Pidgey). Now that I’m older and way more mature, I tend to name them after foods or objects of a similar colour. It’s surprisingly easy to find foods that match the personality or appearance of a Pok\u00e9mon! Especially if, like me, you favour the cute ones.<\/p>\n

I find that it makes things more interesting and personal, because anyone can have a Pikachu, but only I<\/em> have a Pikachu called Pudding. I can’t imagine not giving them names, and I’ve never understood why Ash didn’t bother to name his closest friend<\/em> something other than “Pikachu”. I don’t know. It’s like having a dog called “Bichon Frise”.<\/p>\n

Ollie Reynolds, Staff Writer<\/h3>\n
\"Pokemon<\/a>
Image: Nintendo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I’ve never named a single one of my Pok\u00e9mon \u2014 ever<\/em>. It wasn’t so much a conscious decision either; it’s not like I thought to myself “oh no, I’m not doing<\/em> that, thank you very much”<\/em>. It was more just a case of feeling quite content with the names that had already been given to the Pok\u00e9mon from Game Freak.<\/p>\n

My first Pok\u00e9mon game was Pok\u00e9mon Blue<\/a>, all the way back in 1999 when the first titles launched in the UK. I remember watching the anime series around the same time and I think perhaps I was somewhat aware of the fact that Ash never nicknamed his Pok\u00e9mon; it was always “Pikachu”, “Charmander”, “Butterfree”, etc. Maybe that contributed to my decision..? I’m not sure.<\/p>\n

Either way, I don’t name them! And I don’t plan on starting anytime soon.<\/p>\n

Jim Norman, Staff Writer<\/h3>\n
\"Pokemon<\/a>
Image: Nintendo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While each stable in my playthrough of Breath of the Wild<\/a> was full of magnificent stallions, each with hand-crafted names like TenseEric<\/em>, Ham Thing<\/em> and Shaquille<\/em>, I have always made a point to never name my Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing, I am a man of order. When I was first playing Pok\u00e9mon Ruby<\/a> back in the early 2000s I didn\u2019t want any sense of creativity. I wanted all of my little creatures to be exactly as they should be, and that included their names. This has extended all the way through to the ability to put hats and the like on your \u2019mon in future games. A hat<\/em>? On a Pok\u00e9mon<\/em>? You must think me mad.<\/p>\n

I distinctly remember the stress of trading in Pok\u00e9mon Diamond and Pearl<\/a>. There were certain Pok\u00e9mon that I really, really<\/em> wanted for my team, but if the one presented to me had a nickname \u2013 no way. They were somehow tainted in my mind\u2019s eye.Maybe this time will be different.<\/p>\n

Maybe my time with Tense Eric and the gang will have brought me round to the art of naming. We\u2019ll have to see if inspiration strikes in Paldea.<\/p>\n

Gavin Lane, Editor<\/h3>\n
\"Pokemon<\/a>
Image: Nintendo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As little more than a part-time Pok\u00e9 Trainer (I played Blue and Yellow<\/a> back in the day and then took a two-decade sabbatical until Sword & Shield<\/a>), I can\u2019t afford to go renaming my Pok\u00e9mon lest I forget what their actual names are.<\/p>\n

Whenever I dip into Pok\u00e9mon GO<\/a> for some reason, I\u2019m presented with row upon row of creatures I don’t recognise, so naming them ‘Tony’ or ‘grrrtrude’ or ‘Crockly McGreen’ would only lead to confusion. Back in the olden days, I wasn\u2019t averse to renaming Metapod to ‘Metapoo’, or Pikachu to ‘Lecky Mouse’, but no \u2013 on the whole, I\u2019m not into (re)naming my \u2018mons.<\/p>\n

Also, I\u2019d hate to be in a position where the only legendary I\u2019ve got to offer some poor trainer hoping to complete their \u2018dex is a Zapdos named ‘iiiklee3’. We\u2019ve all been on the receiving end of a trade like that. Don’t be that guy. *Eastwood grimace*<\/em><\/p>\n

Alana Hagues, Staff Writer<\/h3>\n
\"Pokemon<\/a>
Image: Nintendo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019ve been a serial Pok\u00e9mon nicknamer for over 20+ years, but it didn\u2019t all start from the beginning. Pok\u00e9mon Yellow remained untainted by my youthful creativity, but Gold & Silver<\/a> weren\u2019t so lucky.<\/p>\n

Enter \u2018Croc\u2019, the Totodile, later Feraligatr. One of my favourite Pok\u00e9mon with a nickname that took maybe less than 30 seconds for little me to come up with. But I loved him, and I loved that name. It captured the simplicity of the hyperactive crocodile so well and embodied the fierceness (and friendliness) of its final form perfectly. This is where it all started. While the first few games were fairly simple \u2013 I\u2019d name Pok\u00e9mon after friends, pets, cartoon characters, etc. \u2013 by the time Diamond & Pearl and Black & White<\/a> came around, Google and I were pros at this. I\u2019d look up inventive adjectives, use translation tools, and synonyms for words like \u2018fire\u2019 or \u2018clouds\u2019. So you can thank that phase for Inverno the Frosslass.<\/p>\n

With Gen 8, I stuck to a theme for every single Pok\u00e9mon nickname: food. It could be brand names, food types, herbs, drinks, or types of sugar \u2013 as long as it was consumable, it was game. Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble (my actual starter) are all named after types of tea (Matcha, Chamomile, and Peppermint), while my Dragapult has one of my favourite nicknames ever \u2013 Noodle. It\u2019s a silly, fun name that captures the sneaky side of the Pok\u00e9mon, but also emphasises how much I adore it.<\/p>\n

I know, I think way too much<\/em> about nicknames, so much so that I can spend 15 minutes coming up with something I\u2019m happy with \u2013 especially if I\u2019m going to use it on my team. But it\u2019s part of the fun for me. Who knows how I\u2019ll approach naming my \u2018mons in Scarlet & Violet!<\/p>\n

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Do you give your Pok\u00e9mon nicknames? (1,371 votes)<\/h3>\n
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  1. Yes, every single one since the very start!<\/strong>13<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. I’ve given a few here and there, if I’m fond of them<\/strong>26<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Maybe one or two, but not really<\/strong>19<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  4. I’ve not given my Pok\u00e9mon nicknames, but I’m open to the idea<\/strong>6<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  5. I’ve never done it, and never plan to!<\/strong>36<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Will you give your Pok\u00e9mon nicknames in Scarlet and Violet? (1,179 votes)<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Definitely, all of them!<\/strong>17<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Maybe a few, we’ll see<\/strong>25<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    3. I doubt it, but you never know<\/strong>13<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Nope, they’re staying exactly as they are!<\/strong>46<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      <\/p>\n