100 :: audio

[digitalorunknown]

Why do some Pokemon have nicknames? I know how they get them, but why...what do they mean? How do you choose?

I think this one wants another name, but...names are important. I don't know what would be best.

Comments

[aheroofjustice]

Not sure, but I guess some Pokemon have nicknames so their trainers will be able to tell them apart from other Pokemon, or other trainers' Pokemon.

What Pokemon do you have? Is he -or she- strong?

[video]

[digitalorunknown]

[The video clicks on at an angle such that Dorumon's shoulder and the pink Shellos that's wrapped around it are visible. The Pokemon blinks at the Pokegear sleepily, then slowly leans towards it, mouth breaking into a wide, dopey grin with a happy "Laa!" noise.]

He doesn't want to be called... [um what was it-] -Shellos. Maybe that's why.

(Video)

[aheroofjustice]

(Sayaka's eyes widen in awe at seeing the Shellos appear on Dorumon's shoulder. He seemed really happy to be with his trainer! And it did look kinda cute.)

Wow, I can totally understand that. I haven't come up with nicknames for all mine either. How about...Tank? 'Cause of the shell. Or maybe 'Protect'.

Audio

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

The same reason people have names I suppose. To tell them apart from each other. And normally I try to pick a name that would suit them. They seem to like them at least.

Audio

[digitalorunknown]

One that suits them...so...

[...yeah he's got nothin'.] ...what kinds of names do you use?

Audio

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

Well I named two of them after people I used to know. That would be Lisa and Cybil. My daughter picked the name Hazel for one of them. And the others I named after characters from books, like Norman and Carrie.

Video

[dreamsofahero]

Giving them names helps tell one from another. If neither Ryner or I named ours, then when one of us called for "Absol", it would be hard to tell whether we meant Jehra or Dusk, after all.

And I can't speak for anyone else, but I try to find names that suit them and that they're content with.

Video

[digitalorunknown]

What does that mean? Ones that "suit them"?

Re: Video

[dreamsofahero]

Well, for example, when my slowking first joined us as a slowpoke, it had turned out that she'd traveled all the way from the well in Azalea Town to Goldenrod City trying to follow us. So a name like "ardent" was fitting, given her dedication, but calling her something like "caprice" wouldn't fit that personality at all.

video

[viiru2alert]

Mainly, what I do is I come up with a list of like three or four possible names and say 'em all for the Pokémon. They can pick the one that sounds the best -- and probably has the best meaning, too, since it seems like they kind of understand our language.

video

[digitalorunknown]

Oh! [That's a really good idea. Dorumon gives an enthusiastic nod.] It's kind of hard to tell what Shellos thinks, but the others would like that. [He holds his arm out to the camera, displaying the magnificent slug.] He seems happy with everything, but I still want to give him the best name I can.

[viiru2alert]

[Truly, that Shellos is a beauty.]

Well, if he's indecisive, just go ahead and give him a name of your own.

audio;

[cakelover]

I choose the ones that sound cutest, you know?

audio;

[digitalorunknown]

Shelgon might try to eat me if I called him something cute. [Is that a joke? Was it serious? The world may never know.] But Shellos and Meowth are...kind of cute...

audio;

[cakelover]

Eat you...! In that case, go for something cool! Something cool!

[ being eaten is bad! ]

[Video]

[moveslikestrider]

I give them a list of names, explain what they mean and tell them to pick what they want. It's their name, feels important to do that.

[Video]

[digitalorunknown]

It sounds like a lot of people do. What kind of names do you come up with?

[Video]

[moveslikestrider]

Music related stuff. I'm debating on branching out to, you know historical stuff. They might like that better.

Video

[for_realsies]

...I ask them what they want to be named.

I wouldn't want to be called Human. That would just get very confusing after a while!

Video

[digitalorunknown]

It'd be fine if there weren't so many humans, or if they came in different types like Pokemon. They all look so different from one another. [mrrg. Shellos is making absent happy noises to comfort his new friend.] Choosing names on your own is hard...

Video

[for_realsies]

And so many of us want to be exactly the same as each other and it's so boring. More uniqueness would be good for us.

Well, Pokemon names don't have to be like human names, I just spout off different words until I find one that my new friend likes! It takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few days!

video

[readapts]

Uhm... I think it's special...if you give them nicknames. Otherwise they're just "Starly" or "Ralts" like others. [The starly on his shoulder fluffs up, in apparent agreement.]

You can come up with a few things...things you like or something like that.

And you can ask them if they like it. [That's how Chihiro's done it, anyway!]

video

[digitalorunknown]

[He doesn't really get the whole "not being just another x" thing on a personal level, but if that many people are saying it, he guesses that's just how things work around here.]

-I have a Starly, too. [aha...if they talked over these Pokegears without the two Starly around, it'd be harder to tell which one they were talking about, right?] ...That must be why it's important.

Well, so far...there's names from books, names from things they remind me of, naming after what they can do, naming after other people...um, a lot of options. [light sigh...]

audio;

[likewatson]

I've named most of my pokémon after famous Americans. Except my starter, Waldo — he was named after a bird I... uh, knew.

[What an odd thing to say.]

audio;

[digitalorunknown]

They don't mind having human names?