Errors with our Name Origins (Etymology) page

Question

Here: http://pokemondb.net/etymology
I think we got it 99% correct, so thanks to everyone that helped, I really appreciate it!

The point of this post is just in case there may be a few mistakes. If you happen to notice anything you think is wrong, post an answer here and I will look into it. Answers will be hidden once corrections have been made (or rejected). Thanks to everyone who's contributed so far!

Please post answers instead of comments. Thanks.

Comments

Is it just me, or should the origin of Marshadow be "Marsh" and "shadow"?
I checked bulbapedia, and apparently the Japanese is martial arts.
even though faced with glaring facts, I feel like 'martial arts' is a bit of a stretch, especially since it's literally the "Gloomdweller" pokemon. What's more Gloomy than a swamp?

sure, he's a fighting type... i just think "marsh" makes more sense. Is anybody with me?

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he hides in pokemon and people's shadows and use them to learn and get better at fighting than they are, generally coping martial arts :P

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I think the 'tuff' in wiggly tuff could also be refering to a tuft, sort of like jigglypuff, as well as the given meaning of tough.

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Stoutland, I think, is playing off of Shetland terrier/sheepdog, more than just land in general. Dragapult also must be playing off of dragon and poltergeist. I know the spelling is a bit different but it just makes too much sense.

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On the Nickit name origin, "nick" means steal in the UK and "it" just means it. So the name would be "Stealit" technically for its origin name.

Answer 1

Is this thread still active? Firstly, I'd like to back up most that were said before, such as Xurkitree being from "tree" or Litleo being from a "lit" fire.

I'm sure there are a lot more things to be commented on, considering there are 890 different names, many of which are very obscure. That being said, I've compiled a short list for now:

• Chatot may include "parrot"
• Could Hydreigon somehow refer to "hydrogen," perhaps as in the destructive power of hydrogen bombs?
• Since Salazzle is a Fire-type, "sizzle" may be part of the origin
• Stakataka's entry doesn't mention the word "attack"
• Cinderace may incorporate "race," since Raboot has a bit of a theme of running
• Carkol is definitely "charcoal," not just "coal"
• Hatenna might also have "antenna" in there, as its hat resembles one
• This is a bit of a stretch, but the name Morgrem reminds me of the word "rogue," which fits thematically
• Cufant could be derived from "cute" as well as the currently listed entries
• Absol is more likely "absolute," referring to the power of the destructive event it forewarns, as well as "ab-" (prefix for not, as in abnormal) and "sol," together making "no sun," or an eclipse

Answer 2

Obstagoon might also have “goon” in the name, which is a bully or thug, which Obstagoon is.

Answer 3

Pikachu
I know the pika part is from pikapika something to do with sparkling but pika also is the name of a rodent like animal

Comments

I think it's called pica, correct me if I'm wrong.

Answer 4

I noticed that Dottler's name origin simply says Dot, although I believe the rest of Dottler's name origin comes from "Doppler Radar". Doppler Radar is a type of radar used to "produce velocity data about objects at at a distance." These types of radars are usually used as weather radars, if I'm not mistaken.

Dottler's Pokédex entries state that "It uses it's Psychic abilities to monitor the outside world and prepare for evolution." that sounds a lot like what a Doppler radar does. The rest of the line also has to do with Radar, as is evident from Blipbug and Orbeetle's names.

Answer 5

I didn’t read all of the answers, so sorry if this was already posted, but Nickit is likely named after kit, another name for a young fox.

Edit: Pikachu may come from pika, which is a type of animal related to rabbits. More information on this Wikipedia page: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pika

Comments

I think it could also have inspirations from Kitsunes (you've likely heard of them) which are mythical, fox pranksters. Nickit's Pokedex entries mention it stealing things and generally behaving like a prankster

Answer 6

Cosmog: Likely comes from cosmos and smog, rather than fog. It just is much more of a good pun that I think it's what they meant.

Thwackey: Also comes from monkey.

Drizzile: Most likely comes from reptile, not prehensile. Doesn't have much to do with prehensileness, anyhow.

Nickit: Probably comes from kit, as in baby fox.

Thievul: The current one may be correct, but it definitely also comes from evil.

Mr Rime: Says that it's from rhyme, but since it's an ice-type, it's much more likely it comes from rime, a kind of layered ice.

Drakloak: Says it comes from dragon, but the K indicates it comes from drake.

Comments

But I don't think Theivul comes from Evil.

Answer 7

I think the name of Lunala comes from the word lunula, which is half-moon shaped visible part of the root of the nail.

Lunula (Article)

Answer 8

Issue with Munna and Musharna's page

It says "muso" means "dream" in Japanese, when it doesn't. "Yume", also spelt as "夢" is dream.

I literally could not find any word close to "muso" anywhere, other than "miso" (a soup), but if y'all meant "mousou", that means "delusion".

Answer 9

The definition of "feral" on Feraligatr's page describes feral as meaning "menacing, ferocious." This is not exactly the meaning of feral. I believe it should be something like "wild, untamed."

Answer 10

Regarding Cranidos and Rampardos
I don't think very many dinosaurs' scientific names end with "-dos". It's probably just a random, unexplained syllable, or it could be from "dosu" which apparently is the onomatopoeia for puncturing flesh in Japanese. The puncturing in Japanese explanation works nicely for Ariados.

Answer 11

Should probably post in the answers section instead of making a comment.

I wanted to address a huge flaw in the origins of ponyta that no site seems to have gotten.
I'm fairly certain while ponytail does seem fitting that it's name is actually derived from the animal pony and then a corruption of the word niter(nyta) which is a flammable material used in gunpowder for instance

Answer 12

It is correct that Makushita is a division in sumo (the third highest), but Hariyama is not. Most likely, the "Hari-" part comes from "harite" which means a slap and is used in sumo. "Yama" is "mountain", frequent suffix in sumo shikona (ring names). Hence my own user name!

Also, Rhydon, I think also sounds like "right on", the way that it charges!

Answer 13

On the page of Zeraora you wrote that tora is Japanese for tiger.
Since torracat evolves in a tiger, I'm pretty sure it's name etymoligy could easily be something with tiger.

Answer 14

It says Cloyster comes from a cloister, which is a religious cathedral, even though Cloyster is just a clam and an oyster. It probably was just a wrong definition though, as Cloyster is a a play on another type of cloister, which is to seclude or shell oneself.

Comments

Thanks, you're right that definition makes more sense.

Answer 15

Lapras' name is actually based on the mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace according to bulbapedia

Also Primarina's name is more likely prima donna + marine since primarinas design has little to do with ballet

Comments

can you link us to the bulbapedia article? that seems like a very far reach for that to be lapras' name, its possible it was a dumb edit

Answer 16

I think that the second half of Bidoof’s name could, as well as what is currently listed, be based on the word “doofus”. I mean, look at the thing. Bulbapedia also has this listed as name origins.
https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Bidoof <the bulbapedia page

Comfey could also be based of Comfrey, a type of flower. It is used as a herb, though it’s also toxic.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphytum

Answer 17

Jirachi's page says "sachi" is Japanese for wish.

Again, fluent. Hoshii/negai would be better terms for wish, and neither of those fit.

All the pages I found say Jirachi comes from 幸, sachi, and all of those mean "good luck" and "fortune". Not wish.

Answer 18

Snom
According to Bulbapedia,
"Snom's voracious appetite in Pokémon Camp is likely a reference to Saturniidae biology, in which the caterpillars eat a large stockpile of food due to losing the ability to eat upon becoming moths."

I think that Snom could be:

Snow | frozen precipitation
Worm | soft bodied invertabrate
Nom | Slang for eating

I personally do not agree with Snom coming from "Moth", that's more it's evolution, Frosmoth for me.

Toxtricity
I think it is probably Toxic, but Toxicity is another viable option I think.
"Toxicity: The quality or degree of being toxic". That's what I think.

Applin
I believe that it isn't Apple, but Apple + In. It's Sword Dex entry states
"It spends its entire life inside an apple". This means that it is a small Dragon of sorts living inside the apple. Just my opinion though, not sure if I am right :)

Togedemaru
Just a small thing, "de" can mean of in some languages, so basically Togedemaru is Round of Thorns lol

Hope this is alright :D

Answer 19

"Kangaskhan - Genghis Khan Mongolian leader"
"Khan" does not need to be from Genghis Khan, "Khan" was a tittle used by many leaders in central Asia (and even eastern Europe): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_(title)

Comments

“Kangas” sounds like “Genghis”. That’s what the etymology page is referring to.

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The name clearly comes from Genghis Khan, it sounds exactly the same.

Answer 20

Poipole is, I believe, a combination of Pole, Poison, and (which was previously missed), Purple.
Zygarde is derived from 'zygote'.
The site says Cinderace comes from 'cinder' and 'ace', but I think it is 'cinder' and 'race'.
Dottler is based on 'Doppler', a kind of radio.
I would say Toxtricity is from toxicity and electricity.
Hattena is a combination of 'hat' and 'antenna'.

I think I am correct, so If you agree, please make these (slight) changes to your website.
Thanks!