Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venusaur
The first part of each of their names is derived from plants. “Ivy” is obvious. “Venus” comes from the Venus fly trap, and some plants bloom from bulbs. The “saur” at the end of their names is reminiscent of dinosaurs.
Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard
The “Char” in each of their names is a fire prefix (charcoal, char-broiled, etc.). “Mander,” “meleon,” and “izard” come from salamander, chameleon, and lizard, respectively.
Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise
Each of their names plays on either the word “turtle” or “tortoise.” “Squirt” and “Blast” have to do with expelling water.
Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree, Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Paras, Parasect, Venonat, and Venomoth
These ten bug-types are fairly easy to figure out. Caterpillar, butterfly, cocoon, bee (with drills for arms). Metapod is a pod for metamorphosis. Paras and Parasect are parasites. “Sect” comes from “insect.” In Venonat and Venomoth, the first part is obviously “venom” and then gnat and moth.
Pidgey, Rattata, and Spearow
These are all pretty self-explanatory.
Ekans and Arbok
Ekans is “snake” backwards, and Arbok is “cobra” backwards.
Raichu
“Rai” is a Japanese word for thunder or lightning.
Sandshrew and Sandslash
These two play on the Pokémon’s habitat—near sand—and it’s animal form—the shrew. Sandslash also highlights the Pokémon’s defense mechanism—it’s claws.
Nidorina, Nidoqueen, Nidorino, and Nidoking
These all play on feminine and masculine endings for the evolution of Nidoran which can be either male or female. Its evolved stages specify gender with the endings of their names: -ina, -ino, -queen, and –king.
Clefairy and Clefable
These cute Pokémon have the words fairy and fable in their names.
Vulpix
This fox plays on the Latin classification for foxes.
Zubat and Golbat
The play is on the word bat—the animal they both are.
Oddish, Gloom, and Vileplume
Each of these are plays on plants except Gloom which is a mood.
Diglett and Dugtrio
They stay underground digging most of the time.
Meowth and Persian
“Meow” is the sound a cat makes, and Persian is a breed of cat. Both of these Pokémon are felines.
Psyduck and Golduck
“Psy-” denotes its psychic abilities. “Duck” is obvious.
Mankey and Primeape
These monkeys have monkey-like names.
Growlithe and Arcanine
Dogs “growl” and are canines.
Abra, Kadabra, and Alakazam
If you put these psychic Pokémon’s names together, you get a magic spell.
Machop, Machoke, and Machamp
“Chop,” “choke,” and “champ” all play on these Pokémon’s fighting abilities.
Bellsprout, Weepinbell, and Victreebel
These names all play with plants.
Tentacool and Tentacruel
These two are jellyfish-ish Pokémon. They use their tentacles a lot.
Geodude, Graverler, and Golem
These rock Pokémon have earthy names.
Ponyta
Sounds like pony.
Rapidash
A combination of rapid and dash. Not bad for the fastest Pokémon.
Slowpoke and Slowbro
They’re…well…slow.
Magnemite and Magneton
They’re electric magnets.
Farfetch’d
He’s a little farfetched himself.
Doduo and Dotrio
The play is on the number of heads each has—two and three, respectively.
Seel and Dewgong
They are seals!
Grimer and Muk
These poison Pokémon look just like their names sound.
Shellder and Cloyster
These water and ice Pokémon keep themselves hidden in shells.
Gastly and Haunter
These two are ghostly trouble-makers.
Onix
The play is on the onyx stone.
Drowzee and Hypno
These psychic Pokémon enjoy putting others to sleep to eat their dreams.
Krabby
He’s a crab with an attitude.
Voltorb and Electrode
They’re electric, first of all. And, Voltorb has an orb shape to him.
Exeggcute
This Pokémon is made up of a gang of eggs.
Cubone and Marowak
These two wear skulls. Their names have the words bone and marrow in them.
Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan
They were named after Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
Lickitung
Its tongue is twice as long as its body.
Koffing and Weezing
These two Pokémon are composed of explosive noxious gasses. It sounds like they cause lung problems.
Chansey
Chansey are notoriously lucky.
Tangela
It’s just a tangle of weeds and vines.
Kangaskhan
A combination of kangaroo and Genghis Khan.
Horsea and Seadra
Sea horse and sea dragon.
Goldeen, Seaking, Staryu, Starmie
These four play on the animals names they are based on.
Mr. Mime
He’s a colorful mime…that talks.
Scyther, Electabuzz, Magmar, and Pinsir
Their names are derived from their weapons (scythes and pincers) and their elements (electricity and magma).
Tauros
It’s a bull.
Magikarp
He’s a magic fish—he evolves into a Pokémon far stronger than itself—something not seen in any other Pokémon.
Ditto
It can duplicate, or ditto, any other Pokémon.
Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon
Their names hint at their elements.
Porygon
He’s a series of polygons.
Omanyte and Kabuto
Their names are based on ancient shells and sea creatures.
Aerodactyl
He’s a prehistoric pterodactyl.
Snorlax
Snorlax has two hobbies: snoring and relaxing.
Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres
The first part of their names represents their respective elements, and the last part of their names is a Spanish number, indicating which bird each is in the sequence: uno—first, dos—second, tres—third.
Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite
These three are dragon-type Pokémon.
Mewtwo
This Pokémon is a clone of Mew, or the second Mew.
Glen Miller - I am currently a junior studying writing and legal studies at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. I am due to graduate in ...
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