Meta-PokéBase Q&A
14 votes
26,516 views

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.

by
edited by
I was thinking more of the 'tle' part of Dottler. Actually, now that I think about it, it could have something to do with the Doppler effect.
And also the Doppler radio
(Don’t know how to ‘answer’ on mobile - might just not have enough points on my account either - reposted as i put this in the wrong section)
(Sorry if the formatting is bad, first time posting a question on here)

Just found out about the Name Origin section.. looking through it, I noticed ‘zygote’ wasn’t in the Name Origin section for Zygarde, which confused me- I’ve always linked the two

According to Oxford, zygote means “a diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes; a fertilized ovum.”

>diploid cell
the zygarde cells!

>ˈzīˌɡōt
first half of the word has the same pronunciation as the first half of Zygarde

>only three letters off
self-explanatory point

those are all the points I can think of right now, would be cool to hear others’ thoughts

>“please keep in mind that younger people don't know what a ZYGOTE is” -Mare the Hisuian Zoroark
I’ve known what a zygote is since about ten- most younger people would probably be using a site like Bulbapedia or something else higher in the search results anyways - theres an explanation of what each word means next to them as well
sumwun explains my point in a much shorter fashion - “I don't think Pokemaster is concerned about this issue. Even fewer younger people know what the word "luego" means, but it's still in Lugia's name origin section.”
I would like to say that my brother thought marshadow came from marshmallow.

55 Answers

1 vote

Rayquaza

The entry for Rayquaza refers to a quasar as a distant star; this is incorrect. Quasars are quasi-stellar objects, and are actually the result of huge supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies. The light from the quasars is a result of a huge amount of matter in the accretion disk of these black holes.

by
I know my astronomy and whatever you wrote about quasars is half correct. Firstly, quasars are not quasi-stellar “objects”. They’re quasi-stellar radio sources, named as such because they were discovered through their strong radio emissions, but they’re visible in bright light, as you may know, too. They’re a part of the wide varieties of AGN, or active galactic nuclei. They’re not a “result” of the black holes, they’re “powered” by a supermassive black hole in the AGN’s core, which is surrounded by a monstrous accretion disk funnelling material in at a prodigious rate. The brightest quasars need to gobble up an equivalent of a thousand suns each year to keep the lights on. Whenever the AGN runs out of fuel which it needs to sustain the lights and emissions, they central region quietens down. Currently, the scientists are exploring the correlation between a galaxy and the mass of its central black hole. In particular, they are studying how the black hole’s role in gobbling up material eventually robs a galaxy of its chance to make new batches of stars. The central engine’s prodigious appetite seems to be causing its own eventual downfall as it runs out of fuel to keep accreting mass.

The reason which I believe the page mentions quasars as a “distant star” is because of quasar’s initial similarity to stars (emphasis on initial). They appeared bright, almost starlike, and their brightness would sometimes vary over a few days. However, it was hard to tell what they were associated with, and they were almost always very, very far away. eventually, Dutch astronomer Maarten Schmidt* (1929-*) looked at emissions lines from a quasar called 3C 273*. He pointed out that these lines were coming from energized hydrogen atoms and were highly redshifted (i.e., the spectra were shifted very far toward the red end of the spectrum). 3C 273 was not only very bright, but also very far away. Eventually, people realised that quasars are powered by extremely massive black holes consuming huge amounts of materials.
(*- Please note that I haven't re-checked the date(s) and the name(s). They might be incorrect, but I'm pretty sure I do remember them correctly)

So I think that it’s particularly common among the people who’re not familiar with astronomy to think of quasars as bright and/or distant stars. A mistake which needs to be rectified.

That’s all from me. Cheers.
If I could upvote a comment I would.
1 vote

I think Milotic is partially based on the word melodic. I know this might sound wrong, but Pokemon has never made a Pokemon a homophone of a word and not connect it somehow. Obviously, Milotic is not known to be a singing Pokemon, but it has had Disarming Voice as a level up move since ORAS. Milotic's design is obviously part mermaid and mermaids are famous for their perfect voices.

Idk just a thought

by
This is a big stretch. Only supporting evidence is the name and Disarming Voice, and there are multiple other Pokemon that can learn it despite having no connection to sound.
But is there another Pokemon that is a homophone of a word and isn't based on it in some way?
1 vote

I disagree with the current explanations for Natu and Xatu.

The Japanese names ネイティ (Naty) and ネイティオ (Natio) respectively might simply be referring to "Nature", "Native"or "Natio(Italian)" (with Naty like a more junvenile/baby name for Natio) .

I think "Natu" simply follows the etymology of the orginal name.

As for Xatu, I think its farfetched to infer that X is for "Exotic". Based on its design, its etymology most probably lies in "Xat", I quote, "a carved pole erected as a memorial to the dead by some Indians of western North America". Thus it's totemic appearance. I also entertained the idea of "Xanadu": "an idealized place of great or idyllic magnificence and beauty", which is okay given how Xatu is tied to mythical beliefs and something almost like a Aztec prophecy. I still prefer the "Xat" explanation personally.

by
1 vote

Stakataka is Stack and Attack/Attacker.

by
1 vote

Dialga should include Dial, as in time, because Dialga controls time.

by
1 vote

Isn’t Basculin/Basculegion’s names also puns off the Spanish word for scales-bascúles? It makes total sense for fish Pokémon like these, right?

Also, skunks are not rodents, they’re rodent-like, and skunks belong in the family Mephitidae.

Tangela’s name sounds a bit like “tangle of”.

I think the “dos” part of Gyarados’ name likely refers to the fact that it’s the second and last stage in its family.

by
0 votes

For Volcanion, im pretty sure the part you think is lion is referring to the word canyon, since canyon is referring to a word that could fit it and i dont see any resemblance to a lion at all

by
> Volcanion may be a combination of volcano and *lion*. It may also include canyon, referring to its ability to break large landmasses. "Canion" may also be a corruption of cannon.

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Volcanion_(Pok%C3%A9mon)#Name_origin
0 votes

I believe Celebi is also derived from ‘celery’, based on the Grass-typing as well as the listed celestial.

by
edited by
I think that's a coincidence. It much more closely resembles a bulb than celery. Not sure they'd deliberately design a vegetable fairy, either.
0 votes

Celebi probably does not have its etymology in English words, because it's like an exact romanisation of it's Japanese name セレビィ, which I think is a combination of 精霊 (seirei)(Fairy) and 美 (bi)(Beauty).

by
0 votes

The "puff" in Slurpuff should not be the morpheme : "a small blast (of powder etc.)" as currently stated in the entry. The puff here refers to the dessert, makes more sense considering the design of the pokemon which is based on some cake-like confectionery.

Cross referencing with it's Japanese name ペロリーム (ペロペロLicking Noises + クリーム Cream)might bring more clarity.

French name "Cupcanaille" and German "Sabbaione" both referenced a type of sweet confectionery as well. (cupcake and Zabaione respectively)

by
0 votes

Skrelp is probably "scrawny+kelp" or "scrap+kelp", I definitely like the latter much better as there are stronger arguments for it.

Japanese Name "クズモー" contains reference to "scraps/morsels of seaweed" : 藻屑 (もくず)
Chinese Name 拉拉藻 is 垃圾(trash/debris)+ 藻 (algae)/海藻(seaweed)

by
0 votes

Wishiwashi is based on "wishy-washy", but the reason as to why it is stylised as Wishiwashi is another different reason. It is a direct succession from the Japanese name ヨワシ (Yowashi), which contains the word 鰯 (iwashi) which means sardines, thus the "-washi".

Also to any lost soul who even bothers to read these, I would really like to draw attention to Vikavolt.

I don't really buy the current etymology analysis of Vice + Volt, we probably all don't pronounce "Vika" similar to "Vice", not to mention that it doesn't fit the design of the Pokemon. All other names of this Pokemon in other available languages all contain a morpheme relating to a cannon: クワガノン Kuwaganon (Japanese) / Lucanon (French) / Donarion (German)/ 锹农炮虫“Stag Beetle + Cannon” (Chinese).

So what the heck is Vika exactly? Volt part is self-explanatory.

by
0 votes

Palossand's current etymology is done right, but it did not account for the additional syllables or morphemes in the name beside the currently identified "palace" and "sand".

It's quite a fun interpretation, but I think the name also was just made to sound like "Pile of Sand".

by
0 votes

Polteageist should be put as having pot in its potential name origin

by
But it doesn't have "pot" in there... it's "polt" from "poltergeist"
–1 vote

Uxie's name origin is from the word "yukusaki" (Japanese for future), "Chishiki" (Japanese for knowledge) and pixie. and "You" has nothing to do with that.

by
edited by
Yukusaki doesn't mean future in Japanese. The Japanese word for future is Mirai, also spelt as 未来. Yukusaki is more of a phase like "where to go", it doesn't totally have a meaning

Yuku, also spelt as iku, is a version of the word "go". Ikimasu is like I will go. -saki is like a time meaning, like "will" or "did", but it doesn't mean future.

Source: i speak japanese
Basically what I'm saying is that makes no sense for Uxie's name origin to be from the term yukusaki because "yuku" would mean "go" in that sense, and then Uxies name origin, if that's correct, is like "Going Pixie", which... i doubt.
Going Pixie Lol