With each enchancment and addition that every new mainline Pokémon entry brings, there are a handful of options that stay unchanged because the launch of the franchise greater than 25 years in the past: the flexibility to heal up at a Pokémon Centre, the looks of the “expertise is unbelievable” man, and — in fact — the choice to present your loved one Pocket Monsters nicknames.
In the course of the first few generations of Pokémon, the notion of giving every considered one of your companions its personal distinctive nickname may need appeared fairly doable. Now that we’re heading into the ninth technology of the franchise with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, nonetheless, there are near-enough 1000 of the beggars to maintain monitor of, so it obtained us considering: Do gamers nonetheless go to the trouble of nicknaming all of them?
A bunch of writers at Nintendo Life put throughout their very own ideas on the matter under, and we would love to listen to from you, too. Do you continue to do it? Have you ever by no means finished it? Go on, pop your vote within the ballot on the backside of this web page and tell us your nicknaming habits — and, maybe, some selection examples within the feedback. We have all had a Pikachu named ‘Steve’, proper? Proper!?…
Kate Grey, Workers Author
I identify all my Pokémon, besides those I do know I’ll throw away — I imply, let out — once I’m doing issues like shiny looking or IV breeding. And I do not do these fairly often, so just about all my Pokémon have names.
Once I was a child, it was a diminutive model of their actual names (Chicky for Chikorita) or an outline of their kind (Birdy for Pidgey). Now that I am older and far more mature, I have a tendency to call them after meals or objects of an identical color. It is surprisingly straightforward to seek out meals that match the persona or look of a Pokémon! Particularly if, like me, you favour the lovable ones.
I discover that it makes issues extra fascinating and private, as a result of anybody can have a Pikachu, however solely I have a Pikachu referred to as Pudding. I can not think about not giving them names, and I’ve by no means understood why Ash did not trouble to call his closest buddy one thing apart from “Pikachu”. I do not know. It is like having a canine referred to as “Bichon Frise”.
Ollie Reynolds, Workers Author
I’ve by no means named a single considered one of my Pokémon — ever. It wasn’t a lot a acutely aware resolution both; it isn’t like I assumed to myself “oh no, I am not doing that, thanks very a lot”. It was extra only a case of feeling fairly content material with the names that had already been given to the Pokémon from Sport Freak.
My first Pokémon sport was Pokémon Blue, all the way in which again in 1999 when the primary titles launched within the UK. I bear in mind watching the anime collection across the similar time and I feel maybe I used to be considerably conscious of the truth that Ash by no means nicknamed his Pokémon; it was all the time “Pikachu”, “Charmander”, “Butterfree”, and so forth. Possibly that contributed to my resolution..? I am undecided.
Both approach, I do not identify them! And I do not plan on beginning anytime quickly.
Jim Norman, Workers Author
Whereas every steady in my playthrough of Breath of the Wild was stuffed with magnificent stallions, every with hand-crafted names like TenseEric, Ham Factor and Shaquille, I’ve all the time made some extent to by no means identify my Pokémon.
Right here’s the factor, I’m a person of order. Once I was first enjoying Pokémon Ruby again within the early 2000s I didn’t need any sense of creativity. I wished all of my little creatures to be precisely as they need to be, and that included their names. This has prolonged right through to the flexibility to place hats and the like in your ’mon in future video games. A hat? On a Pokémon? You could suppose me mad.
I distinctly bear in mind the stress of buying and selling in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. There have been sure Pokémon that I actually, actually wished for my group, but when the one offered to me had a nickname – no approach. They have been someway tainted in my thoughts’s eye.Possibly this time will probably be completely different.
Possibly my time with Tense Eric and the gang could have introduced me spherical to the artwork of naming. We’ll should see if inspiration strikes in Paldea.
Gavin Lane, Editor
As little greater than a part-time Poké Coach (I performed Blue and Yellow again within the day after which took a two-decade sabbatical till Sword & Defend), I can’t afford to go renaming my Pokémon lest I overlook what their precise names are.
Each time I dip into Pokémon GO for some cause, I’m offered with row upon row of creatures I do not recognise, so naming them ‘Tony’ or ‘grrrtrude’ or ‘Crockly McGreen’ would solely result in confusion. Again within the olden days, I wasn’t averse to renaming Metapod to ‘Metapoo’, or Pikachu to ‘Lecky Mouse’, however no – on the entire, I’m not into (re)naming my ‘mons.
Additionally, I’d hate to be ready the place the one legendary I’ve obtained to supply some poor coach hoping to finish their ‘dex is a Zapdos named “iiiklee3″. We’ve all been on the receiving finish of a commerce like that. Do not be that man. *Eastwood grimace*
Alana Hagues, Workers Author
I’ve been a serial Pokémon nicknamer for over 20+ years, but it surely didn’t all begin from the start. Pokémon Yellow remained untainted by my youthful creativity, however Gold & Silver weren’t so fortunate.
Enter ‘Croc’, the Totodile, later Feraligatr. One among my favorite Pokémon with a nickname that took perhaps lower than 30 seconds for little me to give you. However I beloved him, and I beloved that identify. It captured the simplicity of the hyperactive crocodile so nicely and embodied the fierceness (and friendliness) of its ultimate kind completely. That is the place it began. Whereas the primary few video games have been pretty easy – I’d identify Pokémon after associates, pets, cartoon characters, and so forth. – by the point Diamond & Pearl and Black & White got here round, Google and I have been execs at this. I’d lookup ingenious adjectives, use translation instruments, and synonyms for phrases like ‘fireplace’ or ‘clouds’. So you’ll be able to thank that part for Inverno the Frosslass.
With Gen 8, I caught to a theme for each single Pokémon nickname: meals. It may very well be model names, meals varieties, herbs, drinks, or varieties of sugar – so long as it was consumable, it was sport. Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble (my precise starter) are all named after varieties of tea (Matcha, Chamomile, and Peppermint), whereas my Dragapult has considered one of my favorite nicknames ever – Noodle. It’s a foolish, enjoyable identify that captures the sneaky aspect of the Pokémon, but in addition emphasises how a lot I am keen on it.
I do know, I feel approach an excessive amount of about nicknames, a lot in order that I can spend quarter-hour developing with one thing I’m pleased with – particularly if I’m going to apply it to my group. But it surely’s a part of the enjoyable for me. Who is aware of how I’ll method naming my ‘mons in Scarlet & Violet!