French

This is a sub-page of Development:Pokémon Red and Blue/Localization Glossaries.

The following information comes from the XLS sheet ★ポケモン監修用資料\ローカライズ関連\グロッサリ\北米\【赤青】仏語経緯050218.xls in GFDocs.7z.

A few things to know:

Translation notes appear in [brackets].
Accented letters are broken in the original spreadsheet, displaying as a question mark. They have been corrected here.
Some entries have been re-ordered compared to how they appear in the XLS sheet. This is especially true for items, which are in index order in the sheet; these have been rearranged to group similar items together in the tables below.

Pokémon (ポケモン)#

Rejected Names#

Early Name	Final Name	Explanation	Reason for Rejection
BIZARRE＋PEPIN[*]	BULBIZARRE	[None listed. "Il y a un pépin." means "Something's up.", so it could be a play on the "bizarre" aspect.]	*When referring to very small seeds, like the ones inside an apple, the word "PEPIN" is used. No-go, since this narrows down the size to only very small seeds.
FRIC＋CARAPACE/TORTUE	CARAPUCE	"FRIC" (cash) + "CARAPACE/TORTUE" (shell/turtle). There's a poor connection between these terms, so we avoided using them.	*Don't use, because "FRIC" is a general term for not only coins but also paper money. This makes it so the reference to Squirtle's size becomes muddled.
HIRONDEGLE	PIAFABEC	The only word that translates to "sparrow" is MOINEAU, but we couldn't find any good words that mean "demon" and could be combined with MOINEAU. Therefore, the word HIRONDELE[*], which means swallow, was used instead of sparrow. That way, we tried to preserve the image of Spearow busily flying around. To imply the spirit of a demon, AIGLE was chosen because Spearow and Fearow's beaks resemble those of an eagle. The use of the move "Drill Peck" suggests that it has a sharp beak.	*Don't use. Focus on the beak - You don't have to think about demons - They're not hawks.
BECOISEAU	PIAFABEC	Since Spearow has a distinctive beak, the combination of BEC (beak) and OISEAU (bird) conveys that it's a bird with a distinctive beak.	*Don't use. "Bird" rather than "chick" is good.
EPERVIEGLE	RAPASDEPIC	EPERVIER[*] is a species of hawk. This gives the impression that it's a more evolved Pokémon, in comparison to a sparrow, and that it flies freely and majestically through the sky. Like with Spearow (Onisuzume), AIGLE is used for the "demon" part.	*Don't use. Focus on the beak - You don't have to think about demons - They're not hawks.
PICOISEAU	RAPASDEPIC	We used the word PIC, which means "bird's beak", as well as "long, narrow object with a sharp point" (like a spear/pickaxe") to distinguish it from Spearow. Combining this with OISEAU gives the image of a bird with a long, slender, pointed beak.	*Don't use. RAPASDEPIC has a better balance with Spearow's proposed name change.
FLASH＋ネズミの鳴き声 [FLASH+mouse cry]	PIKACHU	There is a word, "FLASH", which means "lightning/shining". However, there is no word to express a rat's cry (equivalent to the Japanese word "chu-chu"), so there's nothing to possibly combine with FLASH.	*Don't use. There are no word combinations.
SABLAIRO	SABLAIREAU	[Same etymology as final. "SABLE" (sand) + "BLAIREAU" (badger), only the latter is written phonetically]	*Don't use. Has a spelling mistake.
RITOURNELF	MELODELFE	[None listed. Comes from "ritournelle" (ritornello) and "elf".]	*Don't use. No explanations regarding this name were listed.
ROND-FLAN	RONDOUDOU	ROND means "round", and "FLAN" means "pudding". Said in one go, it's pronounced the same as "RONFLANT", or "snoring". Since Jigglypuff can put people to sleep this name would be reminiscent of that skill.	*Don't use. "Snoring" has a different image. It's not a dessert, but rather a "round and pudding-like" thing. The cuteness of pudding with a hint of pridefulness.
GROFLAN	GRODOUDOU	A combination of "GROS" (large) and "FLAN" (pudding).
NOSFERATU＋GROS	NOSFERALTO	A combination of "NOSFERATU," meaning "vampire" (which transform into bats), and "GROS" (large).	*Don't use. Try to not use "GROS" so often.
MAXIBISCUS	RAFFLESIA	The rafflesia flower is completely unknown, almost no one knows about it. When we showed an illustration of this Pokémon to a French person, they said it resembled a hibiscus, so we used "IBISCUS". When we think of an hibiscus, we only have the image of wide open red petals, and not much is known about what kind of flower it is. This also gives it an aura of mystery. In addition, since it's not possible to convey its newfound size as is, we added the word "MAX", or "large" in Latin. In other words, it's a flower with large, mysterious red petals.	*Don't use. Even if awareness is low, we would be happy if people found out about it through Pokémon, and it would be better if the mystery remained. It's important for children to play games that they will better understand when they grow up. They would be pleasantly surprised looking at a plant diagram and finding a name they had already heard of.
ANTIPOUTIK	MIMITOSS	Because it's a Bug/Poison type with moves such as "Leech Life" and "Stun Spore" we went with the word ANTIPATHIQUE, which means "detestable" or "harmful". In the middle we used the word POUX, or "lice", based on its artwork and the fact that it's a blood-sucking insect. The IK at the end makes the name sound more monstrous. [Leech Life, a move both Venonat and Venomoth can learn, is known as "Suck Blood" in Japanese. Also, while not mentioned, there is a (likely intended) double reference with "TIQUE", or tick, a blood-sucking parasitic bug.]	*Words such as "unloved" and other negative expressions are basically no-go. The same combination as in German would be good.
MITOSS	MIMITOSS	[Same etymology as final, only lacking the first "MI".]	*Don't use (trademark).
CALAMITEUX	AEROMITE	Because it's a Bug/Poison type with moves such as "Leech Life" and "Stun Spore" we went with the word CALMITÉ, which means "detestable" or "harmful". In the middle we used the word MITE, or "moth/mite", based on its artwork and the fact that it's a blood-sucking insect. By ending with MITEUX, this name becomes tied with poison, giving the impression that this Pokémon is poisonous. [MITEUX translates to "moth-ridden", so the intent was likely to convey an image similar to spoiled food/something past expiration date.]	*Do "moth" and "mite" use the same word? No-go because it's only based on the image its moves bring to mind.
MIAOUSTE	MIAOUSS	A cat's meow is "MIAOU", and "OUSTE" means "shoo, go away" to get rid of something unwanted. This matches the vibe of the troublesome yet lovable Meowth. Also, when Meowth is called that in the anime, it's not only its name, but also "darned cat that does nothing but misbehave".	*Don't use.
NYARTH		Same spelling as in Japanese.	*Don't use. The pronunciation is similar to "NYARK", which is reminiscent of a witch saying "NYARK, NYARK, NYARK" as she kidnaps a child. The similarly pronounced "NIAK" is a racist term.
NIARSSE		Spelling that retains the same pronunciation as in Japanese.
MEOWTH		Same spelling and pronunciation as in English.	*Don't use (MIAOUSS is better).
MIOSSE		Spelling that retains the same pronunciation as in English.	*Don't use (MIAOUSS is better).
MIAOUX		Named after the sound of a cat's meow, "MIAOU", adding an X to it at the end.	*Don't use (trademark).
KWAK	PSYKOKWAK	The sound of a duck's quack is "COUAC", and so we kept the pronunciation but changed the spelling.	*Don't use (trademark).
KWAKATTAK	AKWAKWAK	The sound of a duck's quack is "COUAC", and so we kept the pronunciation but changed the spelling. "ATTAK" comes from ATTAQUE (attack). Gives a stronger and more aggressive impression.	*Don't use (trademark).
VULCANIN	CANINOS	A combination of the word VULCANO[sic], or "fire/volcano", and CANIDÉ[] (dog). CANIN[] alone also means "dog". These make it clear it's a Fire type dog Pokémon. The word CANINE means "canine tooth". Growlithe's teeth, and by extension its ability to bite, are also helpful. [The Greek god Hephaestus, whose Roman counterpart is Vulcan, was said to have his forge inside a volcano. This likely got mixed up in the retranscription.]	*Don't use. It's better to use a name like "dog monster" or "guard dog monster", instead of focusing on "Flame".
CHIENDEGARDE	CANINOS	A guard dog is "CHIEN DE GARDE." The meaning of "guard dog" can't be easily understood from "GARDE" alone, instead bringing up the image of an armed prison guard. [Growlithe is known as "ガーディ", or "Gardie" in Japanese.]	*Don't use. In addition to being long, CHIEN (dog) can also refer to the "hammer" of a gun.
HEMACHOME	MACHOC	HÉMATOME means "wound/bruise". An HÉMATOME is the bruise that forms when one gets hit, giving the impression that this Pokémon is a Fighting type. By combining it with the word MACHO, this name means "muscular macho".	*Don't use. Leave "MACHO" in to make it sound like a monster. The "wound" part makes it seem too strong for only a Machop.
CHETIFLEUR[*]	CHETIFLOR	[Same etymology as final, only with "FLEUR" (flower) replaced with "FLOR" (from "flora").]	Don't use. Since it's not a flower, we would instead prefer words related to plants and grass.
BOUSTIFLEUR[*]	BOUSTIFLOR
EMPIFLEUR	EMPIFLOR
GRAVALANCHE	GRAVALANCH	[Same etymology as final. "GRAVAS" (rubble) + "AVALANCHE".]	*Don't use (too many characters).
SOPOREPHAN	SOPORIFIK	Since it's a hypnotic Pokémon, both Drowzee and Hypno are named after words that mean "to hypnotize or induce sleep." We thought of the word SOPORIFIQUE, meaning "that makes one sleepy or induces sleep." Also, since this Pokémon is a descendant of the mythical "Baku", we added to it the word ELEPHANT, based on the fact that the Baku's trunk is akin to that of an elephant. Being a creature of Chinese legends, it has no equivalent in France, but since this Pokémon's has what looks like an elephant's trunk, then its name is enough to give us an idea of what it looks like.	*Don't use. Keep "SOPORIFIQUE" but leave out "elephant".
PINCEMI	KRABBY	PINCE means "crab pincer". Both Krabby and Kingler have the same origin. With PINCEMI and PINCEMOI, it becomes a children's song called "pince-mi et pince-moi".This song uses another meaning of PINCE, "to pinch". "Pince-mi and Pince-moi are on a boat. Pince-mi falls into the river. So who's left on the boat?", and the person who is asked the question always answers PINCE MOI. The person who answers is then pinched by the one who sang, making this a song play.	[None listed.]
PINCEMOI	KRABBOSS		[None listed.]
E-POURRIS	NOEUNOEUF	Since it's an egg-like Pokémon, the letter E comes to mind, since it sounds like OEUF (egg). This is combined with POURRIS, originally meaning "rotten", but also usually used for "broken/cracked". This word was chosen because Exeggcute is "POURRIS"[], with cracks on its surface, and some having broken shells. POURRIS also gives the impression that Exeggcute gradually damages its opponent by using moves such as Stun Spore and Poison Powder. [For some reason "MITE" is used here instead. This could come from "miteux", in this context something that is old and worn-out. This is an admittedly odd mix-up.]	*Don't use negative expressions such as "rotten eggs". It's a play on "eggs" and "balls", and has a cute, childish ring to it. [Exeggcute is called "Tamatama" in Japanese, based on "tamago" (egg), though "tamatama" (たまたま) is also a childish way of referring to testicles.]
COCOGNEUR	NOADKOKO	To avoid confusion, the word FRUIT-PALME meaning "palm fruit" is used instead of "yashi no mi" [Japanese for "palm-fruit"] for this Pokémon's category. This word is made up of PALME (palm) and FRUIT. While it sounds different from COCO (coconut), which is used in this Pokémon's name, the two words are synonyms so it won't cause issues. Since it's a palm-tree Pokémon, we picked the word COCO, or "coconut fruit", to be used at the beginning of the name. The ending, COGNEUR, is a word that means "to hit hard" or "to trample". We think this is fitting, since Exeggutor can use the move "Stomp". [Stomp, a move Exeggutor can learn, is known as "Trample" in Japanese.]	*Don't use. Since the ending is the same as MAKOGNEUR (Machamp), we don't want players to mistakenly assume it's an evolution of Machamp.
BRUTE LEE	KICKLEE	Taken from Bruce Lee, who was a renowned award-winning kung fu master. BRUTE not only reminds us of "Bruce", but also the word BRUTE, which means "violent/unruly". This gives the impression that this Pokémon may throw violent kicks like Bruce Lee.	*Don't use (trademark).
JANKLOD	KICKLEE	Named after a famous figure in the world of hand-to-hand combat. Joan Claudo Van Damme[sic] is a Belgian (French speaking) man who is now a famous actor, but before acting he was an actual martial arts champion. His specialty is the roundhouse kick, so we think he would be perfect as a kicking expert.	*Don't use (trademark).
MYKE GNON	TYGNON	Taken from Mike Tyson, a boxing champion famous in Europe. GNON means "punch/strike", so the name suggests a Mike Tyson-like Pokémon that may strike at any moment.	*Don't use (trademark).
JANPOL	TYGNON	We searched for famous real boxing stars, but couldn't find any. As such, like Hitmonlee, we took his name from an actor. Jean Paul Belmonde, a frenchman, is known to have been a boxer before acting. In his movies he always bears his teeth and fights his enemies with great strength, so when hearing his name, you immediately imagine him throwing hands. [Hitmonlee's Japanese name is used here, but this entry is clearly referencing its English name instead, which is based on actor and martial arts legend Bruce Lee. In comparison, "Sawamular" comes from Tadashi Sawamura, a famous kickboxer.]	*Don't use (trademark).
SLURP	EXCELANGUE	The word "slurp" means "to lick".	*Don't use. "SLURPS" is the name of a candy brand.
TOUSSTOUSS	SMOGO	TOUSSER means "coughing". Using TOUSS twice, it turns into an onomatopoeic coughing sound, so we used it as-is.	*Don't use. A word meaning "gas" would be better, and the reason for the coughing is unclear.
TOUSSEUX		It's the same approach as the English name, based on the fact that Koffing uses moves such as "Smokescreen" and "Smog". TOUSSER means "coughing", so we changed the ending to make it more monstrous.	*Don't use. We would prefer a name based on SMOG, rather than a "cough" approach.
BROUILLARD		[None listed.]	*Don't use. BROUILLARD, or "fog", is a tad too long to be a name.
EXPECTOR	SMOGOGO	Compared to TOUSSER used for Koffing, EXPECTORER refers to a more violent cough. Moreover, adding TOR at the end gives it a stronger impression, suggesting it's a more evolved Pokémon than Koffing.	*Don't use. A word meaning "gas" would be better, and the reason for the coughing is unclear.
TOUSSTOUSS	SMOGOGO	The word TOUSSER (coughing), was also used for Koffing. Using TOUSS twice, it reflects the "Mata" [again] part of the Japanese name "Matadogas".	*Don't use. We would prefer a name based on SMOG, rather than a "cough" approach.
POISSEIDON	POISSOROY	POISSON translates to fish. And at the end we added POSEIDON, the god from Greek mythology, mirroring Goldeen [POISSIRENE / mermaid]. This expresses that although it's a fish, it's still a divine presence of the sea.	*Don't use. Poseidon is too strong.
POISSEAN	POISSOROY	POISSON translates to fish. OCEAN was added at the end, in hope of expressing the fact that when Seaking reach maturity, in fall they leave the ocean and return to the river to spawn.	*Don't use. Seedra also has "OCEAN" at the end of its name, so it could be misinterpreted as an evolutionary relative.
SACREVENAR	LEVEINARD	Like the Japanese name, we put emphasis on the "lucky" aspect. When someone encounters something lucky, we call them a "SACRÉ VEINARD". In other words, that means they are very lucky! SACRÉ means "very/extremely", and VEINARD colloquially means "lucky". Because of this, we took this expression and changed its spelling to make it sound more like a name. This conveys to the trainers who caught this Pokémon that, hey, "You're very lucky!"	*Don't use. Long for a name, look into "chance" for inspiration.
TOURBITOILE	STARI	TOURBILLON is a whirlpool or spiraling movement. This expresses that it's a Water type Pokémon. By putting ETOILE at the end, we made it reminiscent of ETOILE DE MER (starfish). ETOILE itself means "star/radial object".	*Don't use. We prefer an origin other than whirlpool/spiral. Not having evolved, it doesn't need a double-meaning. Stick to something simpler, like "starfish".
MAELSTOILE	STAROSS	MAELSTROM means maelstrom. This expresses that it's a Water type Pokémon. In order to create a connection with ETOILE DE MER (starfish), we tacked ETOILE at the end. ETOILE itself means "star/radial object".	*Don't use. Leave ETOILE, because it makes for a good monstrous ending.
SERPE	INSECATEUR	The word that simply means "sickle" is SERPE.	*Don't use. Sounds very similar to the word SERPENT (snake). It would be easy to think this Pokémon is related to snakes.
DISJONK-T	ELEKTEK	There is a word with the same pronunciation, DISJONCTÉ, which means "to have received an electric shock" or "short circuited". In addition, there are many electricity-related words starting with DISJONQ, such as DISJONQTEUR[*] (circuit breaker). The reason for adding a -T at the end was in an effort to make it sound more like a Pokémon name. Normally, it should end in TE, but that would be too simple, so we thought of something to express the "buzz" part of "Electabuzz". It's common to add a letter after a hyphen, and one such example is with writing TE as "-T".	*Don't use (trademark).
SCARABASTON	SCARABRUTE	Stag beetles are generally called SCARABÉE. BASTON originally meant "to beat with a stick". Since it is said that Pinsir won't release whatever it catches in its horns until it's torn apart, we used the word BASTON, which is closest in nuance to the original.	[None listed. Name too long.]
DRAGOCEAN	LEVIATOR	DRAGO comes from "dragon", and OCEAN literally means "ocean". This lets us convey its type. The word OCEAN also gives players the impression that this Pokémon is a large dragon that lives in the sea. The sound "CEAN" is also very pleasing to the ear.	*Don't use. OCEAN is too beautiful, we want to use the name of a ferocious creature like a sea snake or moray eel. We would also like to save the word "DRAGON" for Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite.
FEAUNEK	AQUALI	EAU means "water", and expresses its type. By combining it with the word FENNEC, used for Eevee, it gives the impression it's an evolution of Eevee.	*Don't use. Refer back to Eevee as an alternative.
FECLAIR	VOLTALI	The FE comes from FENNEC, giving the impression that it's an evolution of Eevee. ÉCLAIR means "lightning", and expresses its type.
FEUNEK	PYROLI	FEU (fire) expresses its type. By combining it with the word FENNEC, used for Eevee, it gives the impression it's an evolution of Eevee.
FOSSILA	AMONITA	FOSSILE translates to "fossil". We understand that Omanyte came from ammonites, which is why we used FOSSILE. By changing the ending to A and making it LA, we are making it sound even more monstrous.	*Don't use. Omanyte is the name it had before it became a fossil, so it would be strange if "fossil" was part of its name to begin with.
FOSSILEX	AMONISTAR	FOSSILE translates to "fossil". The ending was changed to reflect the "star" part of Omastar. Because Omanyte ends with LA, it sounds rather weak, while Omastar ends with LEX, giving the impression that it's a stronger and more evolved Pokémon when compared to Omanyte. As for "SILEX", it refers to "Stone Age flint", and in Braille it means "ancient fossil", so it tells the player that this Pokémon was originally a fossil before it evolved.	*Don't use. Omastar is the name it had before it became a fossil, so it would be strange if "fossil" was part of its name to begin with.
RONFLARD	RONFLEX	Snoring in bed is called RONFLER. The ARD at the end of the word suggests "loud, slow, and lazy". This means that the person is snoring loudly and sleeping soundly.	*Don't use. Instead of "ARD" we want the end of the name to sound monstrous.
MANDRACOR	DRACOLOSSE	[None listed. Seems to come from "mandragor" (mandrake), and also "draco".]	*Don't use (trademark).
MUBIS	MEWTWO	The beginning is taken from "MUTATION", and then "BIS", which means "the second/number 2" in Latin.	*Don't use (trademark).
MU	MEW	Same as Japanese name.	*Don't use (due to Mewtwo trademark).

A series of comments can also be found next to the etymologies of a few Pokémon:

Pokémon	Comment	Explanation
Weedle	ビードル [Beedle]	*Don't use. Using the word "Beedle" itself is not allowed as it would be too easily compared with not only the BEATLES, but also the Volkswagen BEETLE, the name of a car by a German manufacturer that is loved throughout Europe.
Pidgey	POPO	Don't use. The Japanese name can't be used because POPO means "butt".[]
Spearow[*]	OGRE・DEMON	*Don't use. OGRE is used in Europe, and comes from French fairy tales. It easily conjures up images of cannibalistic ogres that devour humans in a graphic manner. It's not just a big scary man, but one who devours human flesh violently and vividly, giving a very cruel and miserable impression.
Clefairy	PIPI	*Don't use. The word PIPI means "pee", so we chose not to use it.
Slowpoke	ヤドン [Yadon]	*Don't use. The Japanese name can't be used because YADON sounds the same as the sentence "Y'a donc", which means "So there is". It just doesn't make sense.
Dewgong	ジュゴン [Jugon]	*Don't use. The word "dugong" has a similar pronunciation to "du con" [dickhead], which would be obscene.
Goldeen	POISSEUXを元にした名前 [Name based on POISSEUX]	*Don't use. We thought of a name based on the word POISSEUX (icky), but it was rejected because it instead looked like it was a combination of POISSON (fish) and POISSE (bad luck).
Seaking	POISSEUXを元にした名前 [Name based on POISSEUX]
Shellder	SHELL	*Don't use. It's already the name of a gasoline distributor that is very famous in Europe.
Gengar	GUENGAR/GANGAR	*Don't use. The pronunciation is the same as GANGRENE, which is a medical term referring to the death of cell tissue.
Cubone	KARAKARA	*Don't use. The KARA in "KARAKARA" has the same pronunciation as CARAT, a unit in jewelry. It makes one think of something related to jewelry, or gives the impression that something is shining.
Marowak	GARAGARA	*Don't use. The Japanese name GARAGARA can't be used since GARA has the same pronunciation as "GARE" (train station)".
Koffing	ガス [Gas]	*Considering the historical background of Germany, using a name that emphasizes gas is a no-go.
Tangela	TANGELA	Don't use. The pronunciation of the "GELA" is similar to the word GELLE[sic], which means "frozen/jelly", and so the type and inspiration are not expressed well.[]
Seadra	シードラ [Seadra]	*Don't use. The name "Seadra" has a similar pronunciation to "CIDRE" [cider].
Seadra	〜ララ [〜la-la]	*Generally, the pronunciation "~la-la" is not allowed because it's reminiscent of the word TRALALA, which means "crazy".
Seaking	金魚の名前 [Goldfish species]	*Don't use. If you use the name of a particular species of goldfish, the name will be very long, no matter which one you use, since it will come from Latin or Greek.
Scyther	STRIKE	*Don't use. The Japanese name can't be used because "strike" is a common noun, and is immediately reminiscent of a bowling strike or a baseball strike.
Jynx	ルージュラ [Rougela]	Don't use. Has the same pronunciation as the word ROUGEOLE[], which means "hives/measles." The word [R]OUGET, which has a similar pronunciation, can't be used because it refers to a type of fish (the "red mullet").
Electabuzz	ELEVE	*The word ÉLÈVE, which has the exact same pronunciation as "Eleboo" [Electabuzz] in Japanese, means "student". Names that start with "ele" are associated with "student" or "elephant," so they can't be used.
Lapras	ラプラス [Laplace]	*Don't use. Lapras in Japanese has exactly the same pronunciation as the phrase "LA PLACE", which means "Street square". Also sounds like RAPACE (bird of prey), which can also mean "vulture/cheapskate".
Ditto	メタモン [Metamon]	*Ditto in Japanese has exactly the same pronunciation as the phrase "MES TA MON". MES means "mine", TA means "your", and MON means "my". This name can't be used since it comes out as the incomprehensible "Mine-Your-My".
Gyarados	GYARADOS	*Don't use. The name "Gyarados" is not appropriate because "Gyara" sounds like "garage", and "dos" of either the word "back" or the number 2. This is miles away from the original meaning. The name GYARADOS is also hard to pronounce.
Eevee	EEVEE・イーブイ	*Don't use. Has the exact same pronunciation as the phrase "II VIT", which means "He lives".
Articuno	FREEZER	*The Japanese name "freezer" means "refrigerator", so it can't be used.

Finalized Names#

This table will stay relatively brief, given how a handful of names are lifted from the English or Japanese versions, and how the etymologies of the French Pokémon names has been extensively documented over the years. The latter interview namely has some explanations repeated verbatim by Julien Bardakoff, and even mentions Pinsir's early name.

Worth noting is that Krabby, Kingler, and Pinsir's final etymologies are missing from this sheet.

Name	Explanation
BULBIZARRE	The word BIZARRE, which means "odd", is used as-is at the end of the name. We removed the E from BULBE (seed) and combined it with BIZARRE. We decided to use BULBE, which can represent seeds of various sizes (from thumb-sized seeds to bulbs proper), to leave players wondering about their size. BULBE can also be used to express its type.
HERBIZARRE	A combination of the word BIZARRE, which means "odd", and HERBE, a generic term for grass. [H]ERBE (grass) can be used to express its type, and the fact that this Pokémon evolved from Bulbasaur (seed). These words give it the meaning of "mysterious grass".
FLORIZARRE	A combination of the word BIZARRE, which means "odd", and FLORAL, a general term for flowers. We removed the B from BIZARRE[*] to improve the tone. FLOR (flower) can be used to express its type, and the fact that this Pokémon evolved from Bulbasaur (seed) and Ivysaur (grass). These words give it the meaning of "mysterious flower".
SALAMECHE	The SALA in SALAMÈCHE comes from SALAMANDRE, a small lizard. MÈCHE refers to a small, burning flame. This symbolizes that when this Pokémon evolves, it will bring a greater flame.
REPTINCEL	REPTILE is a generic term for lizards. Considering that the Japanese name [Lizardo] is also a generic term for lizards, with REPTILE the meaning would the same. Also, SALAMANDRE, which was used for Charmander, is classified under REPTILE and refers to a small lizard, so the comparison between Charmander and Charmeleon's size is also clear. The ending of the word was taken from ETINCELLE, a fire blazing and burning brightly. Charmander has a small flame, and Charmeleon a blazing fire, so the idea of evolution is clearly conveyed.
DRACAUFEU	The first word, DRAC, is taken from DRAGON, whose spelling was changed from G to C so that it sounds better when combined with "AUFEU". The ending is taken from the sentence "AU FEU", which is generally used by people when a fire is taking place, here with its spelling changed to AUFEU. For Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard, the beginning of their name can be used to show the evolution from small lizard, to regular lizard, to dragon. The end portion, meanwhile, expresses the change from a small flame, to a burning one, to a large fire.
CARAPUCE	CARA comes from the common word CARAPACE, which refers to the shell of a turtle. Since this does not indicate the size of the turtle, we added the word PUCE to it. PUCE is used colloquially to mean "small girl" or "cute". Originally refers to fleas, but it's not common, and is usually used to refer to a cute child. By using it, we can convey the idea of a relatively small turtle.
CARABAFFE	Similar to Squirtle, we used the common word CARAPACE, to represent the shell of a turtle or tortoise. Rather than a word that describes its size, the word BAFFE has been chosen, focusing on the fact it evolved and became more aggressive. BAFFE refers to attacking, hitting, and slapping, making it sound more more powerful and aggressive than Squirtle.
TORTANK	Blastoise intentionally doesn't use CARAPACE, instead going for the generic TORTUE, which can refer to turtles both small and large. The ending of the name, TANK, refers to armored vehicles, and matches the fact that Blastoise is covered with a shell. Blastoise uses a different naming scheme when compared to Squirtle and Wartortle, to convey that it now brings in even more destructive power and sturdiness.
PAPILUSION	"PAPI" is taken from the word "PAPILLON" (butterfly). Since Butterfree is good at special moves such as "Confusion", "Stun Spore", and "Psybeam", we added the word ILLUSION at the end, which can also refer to hallucinations.
PIKACHU	"PIKACHU" itself has no meaning. The correct way to pronounce this name is "PIKATCHOU". The term for a rat's cry is "COUINER", but it seems that most people are unaware that rats even squeak. [The "chu" of Pikachu comes from (チューチュー, chūchū), the Japanese onomatopoeia of a mouse squeak.]
MIMITOSS	MI was added at the beginning of the name to make it more monstrous. [AEROMITE's etymology is then copied verbatim.]
AEROMITE	The beginning of the name comes from MITE, which has the following meanings: 1) "Insects that bite the skin and suck blood", "Insects that bite clothes, carpets, etc. and eat the fabric". In other words, insects that crawl on the skin or the ground and use their small mouths to eat or suck something. 2) Also means "moth". It has a fairly broad meaning. You can easily imagine MITE from the name MITOSS. At the same time, when you look at its artwork and see that Venonat doesn't fly, you immediately understand it draws from the first definition of MITE. Since its name ends in OSS, it sounds even more monstrous, so you get the image of "a monster that sucks blood or devours something." Comparatively, in order to have people associate Venomoth with both definitions, we used the word AERO as a suffix to add the notion of "[insect] with wings" to the first meaning.
PSYKOKWAK	Both Psyduck and Golduck use KWAK at the end of their names to create a connection. Psyduck uses the prefix PSY, from "psychic", based on the fact that it uses moves like "Disable" and "Confusion", and that it's always suffering from headaches. The sound of a duck's quack is COUAC, and so we kept the pronunciation but changed the spelling, giving us "KWAK". This gives the impression that this is a duck with some kind of psychic powers. [Confusion, a move Psyduck can learn, is known as "Mind Power/Psychokinesis" in Japanese.]
AKWAKWAK	Both Psyduck and Golduck use KWAK at the end of their names to create a connection. The first word, AKWA, is a play on the prefix AQUA, which is related to water. This shows that Golduck is a water type. This alone doesn't tell that it's evolved, when compared to Psyduck, so we've added two KWAKs at the end of the name. We thought this would give the impression that this Pokémon has evolved, even if only a little.
CANARTICHO	CANARD, which means "duck", was used. The combination of "duck" and "green onion" didn't work here, so we used ARTICHAUT instead. Artichoke is a famous edible alternative to green onions, with stems that can grow up to 7 or 8 centimeters in diameter, making them an edible plant that is just the right size for Farfetch'd to hold.
HYPNOMADE	HYPNO is taken from HYPNOSE ("to induce sleep"), also used in hypnotism and sleeping pills. NOMADE is added at the end, meaning "wanderer". In French legends, there is a story called "The Sandman", where a man wanders around the world and sprinkles sand into the eyes of the people he meets, with those people then sure to fall asleep. This Pokémon also carries around a pendulum and can hypnotize those it meets, so we think it conveys exactly the same vibe as this story.
OSSELAIT	OS (bone) was used at the beginning of the name. There is a word, OSSELET that has the same pronunciation as OSSELAIT, but the former means "small bone/sheep bone." The last word, LAIT (milk), was chosen because Cubone is a lonely Pokémon that lost its mother. We took the LAIT part of the term "MÈRE DE LAIT" (wet nurse) in the hope that players could imagine Cubone's lonely past just by hearing its name.
OSSATUEUR	OS (bone) was used at the beginning of the name. Bones and skulls are also collectively called OSSATURE. Compared to Marowak, OSSELAIT has the meaning of "sheep bone" but also "small bone". Meanwhile, [OS]SATURE has a broader meaning, from "general term for bones" to "something's framework/figurative skeleton", so it can express a degree of evolution.
EXCELANGUE	We used LANGUE, which means "tongue". This name's pronunciation is also reminiscent of the word EXCELLENT, something one would say after eating something delicious.
LIPPOUTOU	We used LIP as a suffix because it has a very distinctive mouth. The usual word for lips is LÈVRE, but especially thick lips like Jynx's are called "LIPPE". The latter is used here. Looking at "Lovely Kiss", we went with "POUTOU" (smooch), which gives the impression that this Pokémon has big lips and that it likes to kiss very much.
LOKHLASS	LOK means LOCH, or "lake", and is used to convey its type. Because Lapras is highly intelligent, on top of being a vehicle Pokémon, we combined it with the word CLASSE, which can either mean "intelligent, excellent, elegant, or luxurious". We think this is perfect because it expresses that this Pokémon is a very intelligent watery Pokémon, and that it floats gracefully on a lake.
EVOLI	Since it's the "Evolution Pokémon", we focused on the word "EVOLUTION". FENEK comes from the word "FENNEC", which means "little fox". There is no way to avoid a phrasing in "-i" by adding the letter Y or such at the end, other than to use a different method. As such, we decided to use the word "fennec", based on its appearance. Since it's rare to abbreviate words in French, this approach makes it tougher to discern the etymology. [The "fennec" part refers to early proposed names for Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon, as seen earlier. Their final counterparts share "-li" as an ending, much like the "-eon" of the English names]
RONFLEX	RONFLER refers to snoring in your sleep. The ending of the name was changed to EX to make it sound more monstrous.

Moves (わざ)#

Rejected Names#

Note that Guillotine is the only move that has two rejection comments. The second states that the word can't be used since it would be controversial, given France's historic usage of the device. Despite this, the name remained in the end.

Early Name	Final Name	Explanation	Reason for Rejection
MANIACOUP	MANIA	"MANI[A]" means "to go wild," and "COUP"[*] means "hit".	*Don't use. It's like a blind rage, while we want the image of a weak fighter who gets excited while fighting. "MANIA" in itself is good.
RAGE	FRENESIE	RAGE means "anger". [Literal translation of this move's Japanese name.]	*Don't use. "RAGE" is also used to mean rabies, or mad cow disease. We don't want this move to be misunderstood as causing the same symptoms as rabies.
怒りの＋CROC [Anger + CROC]	CROC FATAL	CROC means "fang". [Super Fang is called "Anger Fang" in Japanese.]	*Don't use. Having the word "anger" makes it sound like the teeth themselves have emotions, and are angry.
EBOULEMENT[*]	JET-PIERRES	"[E]BOULMENT" translates to "rockfall", "landslide, or "rockslide."	*Don't use. The original meaning is "to throw/toss a rock".
AVALANCHE	ÉBOULEMENT	"AVALANCHE" is self explanatory. Even if you don't add the word "rock", it means "rockslide".	*Don't use. We want people to focus on "rock" instead of "avalanche/slide".
AVALANCHE DE PIERRES	ÉBOULEMENT	"AVARANCHE"[sic] is self explanatory, and "PIERRE" means "rock."	*Don't use (too many characters).
往復・ダブル+TORGNOLES [Round Trip/Double + TORGNOLES]	TORGNOLES[*]	"TORGNOLES" translates to "slap".	*Don't use (too many characters).
MOUVEMENT MIROIR[*]	MIMIQUE	Expression using "mirror".	*Don't use (too many characters).
AURORE BORÉALE	ONDE BOREALE	"AURORE BORÉALE" translates to "aurora borealis".	*Don't use (too many characters).
AURORE	ONDE BOREALE	"AURORE" translates to "dawn/aurora".	*Don't use (different meaning).
SOLIDIFICATION	ARMURE	Translates to "hardening".	*Don't use (too many characters). [This name was later used in the mid 2010s for an unrelated TCG-exclusive move.]
RENFORCISSEMENT [sic]	ARMURE	Translates to "hardening".
VENGEANCE	PATIENCE	"VENGEANCE" translates to "revenge".	*Don't use. A literal translation of the Japanese name is better. [This name was later used in Generation V for the unrelated move "Retaliate".]
FATAL-ÉCLAIR	FATAL-FOUDRE	We used this name because it's the strongest electric move, the basic "Thunder" being called "ÉCLAIR".	*Don't use. Taking the future into the consideration, it may not be the "strongest" anymore.
CONCENTRATION	PUISSANCE	"CONCENTRATION" translates to "focus".	[None listed. Name too long.]
FOUET PSY	PSYKO	Translates to "Psychic Whip." When we say "whip", we don't mean an actual whip, but more a symbolic one to give the impression that it's something that can damage the opponent. Akin to the Japanese saying of "the whip of love" ["tough love"].	We think you tried to combine "psyche" and "psycho" with "PSY", but we would rather avoid tacking on other meanings by using more literal Japanese/English translations.
DESEQUILIBRE	MIMI-QUEUE[*]	It means "to lose one's sense of balance." The idea is to confuse the opponent by wagging your tail and make the opponent lose their balance.	*Don't use. The intended meaning isn't "to throw off one's balance", something like "a dog wagging its tail" would be preferred. It's easier to imagine an animal making some kind of gesture to lower one's guard.
QUEUE	MIMI-QUEUE[*]	If you literally translate "waving your tail," it may be interpreted as a move with an extremely obscene meaning.	*Don't use. "QUEUE" (tail), has an obscene meaning. [The word "queue" can be read as "cock" depending on context.]
KAMIKAZE	DESTRUCTION	In Europe, the word kamikaze has taken on a life of its own, not only meaning "attacking an opponent at the cost of one's own life", but also being perceived as a cool word from the East (not unlike samurai, ninja, etc.)	*Don't use. It's better to avoid the word kamikaze, like how Germans prefer not to use the word "gas."
VOL[*]	VOL-VIE	If only "VOL" is used, it means "to steal (an object)."	*Don't use. Has a different meaning.
NUAGETOXIK	PUREDPOIS	A literal translation of the Japanese name. "NUAGE" means "smoke/cloud" and "TOXIK" refers to toxic substances. "Smog", or "smoke so harmful that it makes you cough" is called "NUAGE TOXIC". The ending of the word was changed to "K" to make it more unique.	*Don't use. It doesn't have to be "toxic".
NUAGE	PUREDPOIS	If only "NUAGE" is used, it means "harmless cloud that does not cause coughing when inhaled."	*Don't use. Has a different meaning.
ATLAS	FRAPPE ATLAS	Refers to Greek god Atlas (who carries the earth on his shoulders). It gives the impression that the earth is flying towards the Pokémon on the receiving end of this move.	Don't use (FRAPPE ATLAS is better).
KOUD'BEC	PICPIC	"Peck" means "to poke with a beak," but since "beak" is "BEC" and "poke" is "COUP," it becomes "COUP DE BEC". Since it was quite long, we changed it to "KOUD'BEC", to make it sound like the name of a move.	[None listed. This name made it into early TCG releases like Expedition Pidgey.]
CONVULSION	CHOC MENTAL	Refers to body twitches. We're trying to convey that the use of telekinesis is causing confusion to the point where the opponent's body twitches.	Don't use. "Convulsion" is an undesirable expression. [This name made it into early TCG releases like Fossil* Hypno.]
CONFUSION	CHOC MENTAL	[None listed. Same as the English name.]	*Don't use. It means "misunderstanding", and is sometimes used in conversation, so it doesn't make it clear that we are talking about a "psychokinetic attack that confuses the opponent".
SENTENCE	GUILLOTINE[*]	The word "SENTENCE" means "judgment". It was used to suggest the "guillotine" part, with the sentence leading to the death penalty.	Don't use, "sharp and powerful blades" (scissors) is better. *Don't use. Using the word "guillotine" is not acceptable because there is no death penalty in modern-day France. Using "guillotine" is controversial because it calls back to France's past.
FAC-SIMILIE	MORPHING	"FAC-SIMILE" means "a copy of a thing or action". This word comes from the fact that when you buy a new wallet, it often comes with a dummy credit card inside, and that is also called a "facsimile". The meaning of the original name is that something's appearance is copied and reproduced.	*Don't use. "Copy" doesn't have the same meaning as "transform".
FURIE ATTAQUE	FURIE	"FURIE" means "to go crazy", and "ATTAQUE" means "attack."	*Don't use (too many characters).
COUP DE PIED	ULTIMAWASHI	"COUP DE PIED" means "kick".	*Don't use (too many characters).

A series of comments can also be found next to the etymologies of a few moves:

Move	Comment	Explanation
Lovely Kiss[*]	悪魔 [Devil]	*Don't use ("devil" has religious connotations).
Horn Drill	ドリルの様な角 [Horn Drill]	*Don't use (too many characters).
Wing Attack[*]	翼で打つ [Wing Strike]	*Don't use. Gives the image of flapping wings, and not a "strike", as in an attack.
Pay Day	英語のアプローチ [English approach]	*Don't use. Has a stronger social connotation, as in the money one gets from doing some kind of labor.

Notes#

The following moves have no etymologies listed:

Rock Throw: "JET-PIERRES" is a direct translation of the English name.
Rock Slide: "ÉBOULEMENT" is a translation of the English name.
Thunder: "FATAL-FOUDRE" means "Lethal-Thunder".
Focus Energy: "PUISSANCE" means "Power".
Psychic: "PSYKO" is a translation of the English name.
Tail Whip: "MIMI-QUEUE" means "Cutie-Tail".
Peck: "PICPIC" means "Peck-Peck".
Confusion: "CHOC MENTAL" means "Mental Strike".

Items (どうぐ)#

Rejected Names#

Early Name	Final Name	Explanation	Reason for Rejection
JETON	JETONS	Literal translation of the Japanese name.	*Don't use (should be plural).
BONBON	SUPER BONBON	The words for "mysterious" and "rare" are all long, so we settled on just "candy".	*Don't use ("Rare" is missing).
STIMULANT	MUSCLE +	The original meaning is "stimulant". The approach is to stimulate the Pokémon, making them more energetic and focused, in turn making it easier to target vital points.	*Don't use. Not a "stimulant" but an "increase in attack power".
COLIS DE POK	COLIS CHEN	COLIS means "parcel", and "DE POK" means "Prof.Oak's".	*Don't use. Prof.Oak had his name changed.
NAUTILE＋化石 [NAUTILE+fossil]	NAUTILE	You can tell from the on-screen text that it's a fossil.	*Don't use (too many characters).
DOME	FOSSILE DOME	It means "dome-shaped". Since the word "fossil" is not added to the Helix Fossil, it's not there either. You can tell from the on-screen text that it's a fossil.	[None listed. Likely deemed too vague.]
AMBRE	VIEL AMBRE[*]	It means "amber." Using the word "secret" is discouraged because it would be very long.	*Don't use. We want to make it clear that it's a special key item.
VIEILLE CANNE[*]	CANNE	The word "old" is represented by "VIEILLE"[*], "good” by nothing, and "great" by "SUPER".	*"CANNE" means "fishing rod" and "VIEILLE" means "old".
CANNE	SUPER CANNE	The word "old" is represented by "VIEILLE"[*], "good” by nothing, and "great" by "SUPER".	*"CANNE" means "fishing rod".
BONNE CANNE	SUPER CANNE	[None listed. Simply means "Good Rod".]	*Don't use. Using "BONNE" (good) leads to two "-NNE"s in a row, which would sound horrible together.
SUPER CANNE	MEGA CANNE	The word "old" is represented by "VIEILLE"[*], "good” by nothing, and "great" by "SUPER".	*"CANNE" means "fishing rod". We use "SUPER", an abbreviation of "SUPÉRIEUR", which means "amazing". "SUPER" is commonly used by itself to mean "awesome".
DENT ARTIFICIELLE D'OR	DENT D'OR	A literal translation of the Japanese name.	*Don't use (too many characters).
BADGE AURORE	BADGE PRISME	Same approach as the English name. Badge stays the same, and "aurore" means "aurora."	*Don't use. It's "multi-colored" not "aurora borealis".
BADGE ARCENCIEL		[None listed. Translates to "Rainbow Badge".]	*Don't use. "Arc-en-ciel" (rainbow) is too long.
BADGE IRIS		"IRIS" means "multicolored."	*Don't use (BADGE PRISME is better).
TECHNIQUE DE BASE (TB)	CAPSULE TECHNIQUE (CT)	Abbreviation for "TECHNIQUE DE BASE". The essential meaning remains the same, but since it means "normal technique using some kind of item," it can be differentiated from moves used by wild Pokémon. When the word "machine" is used, it's to refer to industrial equipment, so it doesn't fit.	*Don't use (CT is better).
TECHNIQUE NORMAL (TN)	CAPSULE TECHNIQUE (CT)	Abbreviation of "TECHNIQUE NORMAL", or "normal technique". When the word "machine" is used, it's to refer to industrial equipment. As such, we turned "technical machine" into "normal technique", and "hidden machine" into "secret technique".	*Don't use, since "normal technique" isn't different enough from the moves a wild Pokémon can use.
TECHNIQUE SECRÈTE (TS)	CAPSULE SECRÈTE (CS)	Abbreviation of "TECHNIQUE SECRÈTE", or "secret technique". When the word "machine" is used, it's to refer to industrial equipment. As such, we turned "technical machine" into "normal technique", and "hidden machine" into "secret technique".	*Don't use (CS is better).

A comment can also be found next to the Leaf Stone entry:

Comment
※リーフの形をした石となると、長くなるのでNG
Translation
*Don't use "Leaf-shaped Stone", as it would be too long.

Finalized Names#

Name	Explanation
BADGE ROCHE	Same as the English name. Comes from Badge and "ROCHE" (rock).
BADGE CASCADE	Same as the English name. Comes from Badge and "CASCADE" (waterfall).
BADGE FOUDRE	Same as the English name. Comes from Badge and "FOUDRE" (thunder).
BADGE PRISME	"PRISME" doesn't only refer to the prism itself, but also the seven colors emitted by it.
BADGE AME	Same as the English name. Comes from Badge and "AME" (soul).
BADGE MARAIS	Literal translation of the English name.
BADGE VOLCAN	Same as the English name. Comes from Badge and "VOLCAN" (volcano).
BADGE TERRE	Same as the English name. Comes from Badge and "TERRE" (earth/ground).
CELEBRITE	CELEBRITE means "honor" and "prestige". This is what the Hall of Fame conveys.

Oak's Parcel doesn't have an etymology listed. "COLIS CHEN" simply means "OAK PARCEL".
Dome Fossil doesn't have an etymology listed. "FOSSILE DOME" simply matches its English name.
Dire Hit doesn't have an etymology listed. "MUSCLE +" is straightforward, since the item raises critical hit ratio.

Locations (地名)#

Rejected Names#

Early Name	Final Name	Explanation	Reason for Rejection
VERT	JADIELLE	[None listed. Means "green".]	*Don't use. It's nowhere near interesting to simply use "green".
FORET DE JADIELLE	FORET DE JADE	[None listed. Translation of "Viridian Forest".]	*Don't use (too many characters).
GRIS	ARGENTA	[None listed. Means "gray".]	*Don't use. It's nowhere near interesting to simply use "gray".
BLEU	AZURIA	[None listed. Means "blue".]	*Don't use. It's nowhere near interesting to simply use "blue", "light blue", or "sky blue".
ORANGE	CARMIN-SUR-MER	[None listed.]	*Don't use. It's nowhere near interesting to simply use "orange".
CARMANIE	CARMIN-SUR-MER	We used the word "CARMIN", a deep red color like a painterly western sunset.	*Don't use (CARMIN-SUR-MER is better).
COULEUR PECHE	PARMANIE	[None listed. Means "peach-colored"]	*Don't use. It's nowhere near interesting to simply use "pink".
CARMANIE	PARMANIE	"SUR MER~" is a word that means "near the coast," and is often attached to the names of coastal towns, which Fuchsia City happens to be. Cannes, a famous summer resort, faces the Mediterranean Sea, so its official name in France is "Cannes-sur-Mer".[*]	*Don't use (PARMANIE is better).
ILES ZWILLING	ILES ECUME	[None listed. Means "Twin" in German.]	*The Japanese name is "Twin", but "ZWILLING" can't be used because it's reserved for humans and other living creatures.
SENTIER VICTOIRE	ROUTE VICTOIRE	The literal translation of "the road to victory". A "SENTIER" is a hard-to-traverse path, clearly implying that SENTIER VICTOIRE[*] is a tough road to victory.	*Don't use (too many characters).
S.S.ANNE	L'OCEANE	[None listed. Same as the English name.]	*Don't use. The English word "S.S.", short for "steam ship", is not allowed because of Nazi imagery.
ST.ANNE		[None listed. Same as the Japanese name.]	*Don't use. "ST." (saint) has a religious meaning.
ANNE		[None listed. The ship's "first name".]	*Don't use. It's just a French female name.
STUBBING[sic]		This is the name of the captain from the TV series "La Croisiere s'amuse"[*] (or "Love Boat" in English). It has an easy-going feel, with young people boarding a luxury cruise ship and traveling around the country, getting involved in various events and deepening their friendships at each place they visit. The main character is Captain Stubbing[sic]. He's the captain of a luxury cruise ship and is a fun character who cracks all kinds of jokes. In Europe, this show is so famous that most people who hear the name STUBBING[sic] can immediately picture "luxury cruise ship", "voyage", "humor", etc.	*Don't use (L'OCEANE is better).
ZONE SAFARI	PARC SAFARI	[None listed. Translation of "Safari Zone".]	Don't use. "ZONE" has a more social meaning, such as "industrial areas, military/urban development, etc.", so it doesn't fit the image of the Safari Zone.
GYM POKéMON	ARENE POKéMON	In France, the word "gym" is used for gymnastics and physical education classes, almost becoming a de-facto school term. In fact, in some regions, schools used to be called gymnasiums. In order to clarify the meaning of "physical training," we'd have to say "training gym," which is a very lengthy term.	*Don't use. When you hear the word "gym," you automatically think of a place where you can do rhythmic gymnastics on a mat.
SILPH	SYLPHE SARL	[None listed. Same as English name.]	Can't use, it's the name of a brand of butter sold in France. []

A series of comments can also be found next to the etymologies of a few locations:

Location	Comment	Explanation
Bill's Villa	岬の小屋 [Bill's Villa]	*Don't use. Don't add "Bill's" or "Near the coast" (too many characters).
Rock Tunnel	イワヤマトンネル [Rock Tunnel]	*Don't use (too many characters). [Literally called "Rock Mountain Runnel" in Japanese.]
Rest House	きゅうけいハウス [Rest House]	*Don't use (too many characters).
Bike Shop	BOUTIQUE	*Don't use BOUTIQUE (store), as it would add too many characters.

Finalized Names#

Name	Explanation
BOURG PALETTE	Literal translation of the English name. The words "BOURG" and "VILLAGE", which mean "town", are used to distinguish it from "city".
JADIELLE	From "jade".
FORET DE JADE	"JADIELLE" (Viridian City) is paired with the word "FORET" (forest). JADIELLE has been abbreviated to JADE because of the character limit. Since Viridian Forest comes right after Viridian City, it should be easy to understand that JADE comes from JADIELLE.
ARGENTA	Using the same approach as in English, it comes from "ARGENTÉ"[*], a metallic shade of gray.
AZURIA	Derived from the Persian word "AZUR", which means "light blue" or "sky blue". Because it's derived from Persian, it also brings a sense of mystery.
CYCLES A GOGO	"CYCLE" is from "Bicycle". We added "GOGO", which is often used in French shops. "GOGO" has no particular meaning, but the combination of "GOGO" and "CYCLE" has a good ring to it, and it sounds like the name of a store.
CAVERNE AZUREE[*]	"AZURIA" (Cerulean City) is paired with "CAVERNE" (cave).
CARMIN SUR MER	We used the word "CARMIN", a deep red color like a painterly western sunset. "SUR MER~" is a word that means "near the coast," and is often attached to the names of coastal towns, which Fuchsia City happens to be. Cannes, a famous summer resort, faces the Mediterranean Sea, so its official name in France is "Cannes-sur-Mer".
L’OCEANE	There are no general terms or letters attached to ships, but to give the impression that it's a proper noun, it's written in the form "LA something". When LA is added, it becomes "THE something" in English, and it would also be natural to use it as the name of a ship. The word "OCEAN", synonym of "sea", was used here. The name ends in -ANE, and the pronunciation is close the S.S.Anne's "ANNE".
LAVANVILLE	LAVANDE is the translation of the English name, LAVENDER. The words "BOURG" and "VILLAGE", which mean "town", are used to distinguish it from "city".
CELADOPOLE	CELADON was used like the in English name. To express the "city" part, we added the Greek word "POLIS" at the end, which translates to "city".
MANOIR CELADON	"MANOIR" means "large residential condominium/mansion", to which we added "CELADON", from Celadon City. [Same mistranslation as in English. Condo buildings are only referred to as "mansions" in Japan.]
SAFRANIA	It was taken from SAFFRON, just like the English name.
SYLPHE SARL	A literal translation of the Japanese name. The name was changed to "SYLPHE" so that the pronunciation would stay the same. "SYLPHE" means "air spirit", and "SARL" is a word often attached to French businesses, and means "company" or "corporation". Same meaning as the Japanese name.
PARMANIE	"ROUGE PARME"[*], or "red color of Parma", is term for "peach color". This slightly whitish red color originates from the Parma province of Italy, and is a synonym for "pink" in France. It's not widely used, but it's understandable to those in the know. [Note that "Parme" is actually a shade of purple, not pink.]
PARC SAFARI	A literal translation of the Japanese name. "SAFARI" remains the same. The reason why "zone" became PARC is because "PARC" is used for natural spaces and parks, and has a less industrial connotations.
ILES ECUME	Literal translation from English. "ILES" means "island", and "ECUME" means "sea foam".
CRAMOIS'ILE	"CRAMOIS[I]" means "deep red".
PLATEAU INDIGO	Same as the English name. In French, the order of nouns and adjectives is reversed. (Example: "red pen" becomes "pen red").
ARENE POKéMON	Instead of a gym, we thought of it as an ARENE, that is a "stadium" or "fighting arena."

Characters (人物)#

Rejected Names#

Early Name	Final Name	Explanation	Reason for Rejection
ASH	SACHA	[None listed. Same as English name.]	*Don't use. The English name ASH can be read as "hash" in French, since the H is silent. "Hashish", or (h)ash, is a drug, and so the name ASH could be seen as a reference to that.
MARINE	ONDINE	Since she has Water-type Pokémon, we chose MARINE, a name meaning "water" or "sea". This is also a common first name.	*Too direct, don't use. The focus on "water" rather than "mist" ["kasumi", Misty's JP name] is good.
PROF. POK	PROF. CHEN	A literal translation would be "Pokémon Doctor." In French, the Japanese name "Okido" is pronounced "oak", like in English. We purposely avoided using OAK, because it sounds like a frog croaking. Instead, we chose to refer to him as a Pokémon Professor, to convey his profession, and that he does proper Pokémon research. If we used "PROF. POKÉ" as-is, it would be too direct, and could still be misunderstood as a Pokémon itself being a doctor. As such, we went with POK, which is similar to POKÉ.	*Don't use. Ends up sounding like "Mr. Pock". It's best to use a real last name, and something that has meaning. It would be better to choose a tree that has a dignified name.
ROUGE	RED	[None listed. Direct translation of the English name.]	*Don't use. RED sounds cooler.
BLEU	BLUE	[None listed. Direct translation of the English name.]	*Don't use. BLUE sounds cooler.
MAJOR FLASH	MAJOR BOB	Using the same approach as in English, we chose a name based on his appearance and style. MAJOR is the military rank that immediately comes to mind in France. And since he uses Electric-type Pokémon, the word FLASH is used to easily convey the idea of electricity. Equivalent to SURGE[*] in English.	*Don't use. It would be better to use a name that isn't so direct and obvious. FLASH is too straightforward. The name of a gym leader should be something that can be implied based their looks and demeanor.
RIKA	ERIKA	This name is similar to the Japanese and English names. Erika is also acceptable, but we went with RIKA because there is a woman named Rika who appears in a famous French novel, and she is very closely related to plants, using them to cure people's illnesses. Her name is very similar to Erika. By doing this, we are trying to make it as close as possible to the image of Erika, who uses Grass-type Pokémon.	*Don't use. If you want to use a real name, go with ERIKA.
ELITE	TOPDRESSEUR♂	[None listed.]	*Unlike in Japan, ELITE tends to be associated with the difference between rich and poor, as in "society's elite class", rather than "the best at something."
ELITEDRESSEUR♂	TOPDRESSEUR♂	[None listed.]	*Don't use (too many characters).
ELITE	TOPDRESSEUR♀	[None listed.]	*Unlike in Japan, ELITE tends to be associated with the difference between rich and poor, as in "society's elite class", rather than "the best at something."
ELITEDRESSEUR♀	TOPDRESSEUR♀	[None listed.]	*Don't use (too many characters).
TOP MODEL	CANON	A literal translation of "Grown-Up Woman" [Beauty's JP name] would prove a bit too long. The life of an adult woman is hard to picture from a child's point of view, as if they lived in a world of their own. Since they give out relatively large amounts of money when compared to other trainers, the idea of models in the fashion world came to us. Their existence is so different from that of ordinary women, and is difficult for children to imagine. In France, "model" simply refers to a person who poses for a painting, so when identifying a fashion model, "top" is added as a suffix of sorts.	Top models feel too much like they're from a different world. We want it to feel like they're an older lady who lives next door.
BEAUTÉ	CANON	"BEAUTÉ" is the literal translation of the English name (Beauty).	Don't use (it's too abstract of a name).[]
CONSEIL DES QUATRE	CONSEIL 4	Originally in Greece, the term was used to mean "those in the highest institutions of a country". Since the Elite 4 are in the building that houses the Pokémon League headquarters, the very best of Pokémon trainers, we thought it would give the impression that they are all treated differently from other trainers. We think that the image of "people who are in the highest institution and are a bit difficult to approach" is well expressed. QUATRE is the number 4, as in four people. As a result, it means "the four chosen ones."	*Don't use. Since "4" is used in Japanese, English, and German, so it would be better to include it in French as well.
HAUT CONSEIL	CONSEIL 4	We looked for various words that correspond to the Japanese term "Shitenno". An actual word of Greek origin that means "the best of the chosen ones." HAUT means "high order" and CONSEIL means "chosen person". [CONSEIL DES QUATRE's etymology is then copied verbatim.]	*Don't use, "CONSEIL DES QUATRE" is better.
LORELEI	OLGA	[None listed. Same as English name.]	Don't use. It's not common enough of a name.
LEADER	CHAMPION	[None listed. Same as English name.]	The English word "leader" is also used in France, but it refers to the head of a political party. No go, since it's used for very political purposes.

A series of comments can also be found next to the etymologies of a few trainer classes:

Class	Comment	Explanation
Youngster	短パン〜 [Shorts~]	*In France, people generally don't wear shorts, so we don't want something with "shorts" in it because it would feel a bit odd.
Juggler	ジプシー [Gypsy]	*"Gypsy" refers to a specific ethnic group, and so its use here is not allowed.
Cue Ball	スキンヘッド [Skinhead]	*In Europe, the word "skinhead" has come to refer to neo-Nazis, so its use is not allowed.

Finalized Names#

Name	Explanation
SACHA	We used an anagram of SATOSHI, taking out the S, A, and H and rearranging them to make a French-sounding name.
ONDINE	A French female name whose origin comes from the "undine", a water spirit. The approach was "female name → water spirit → name associated with water".
PROF.CHEN	[None listed. "Chen" is an asian-sounding name, and is an homophone of "Chêne" (oak tree).]
REGIS	We used an anagram of SATOSHI, taking out the S, A, and H and rearranging them to make a French-sounding name. The English name is GARY, which sounds too English, so we made sound more French. [Should read SHIGERU instead of SATOSHI]
LEO	There is a French saying, "He is Leo", referring to the smartest student in the class.[*] This is thought to have come from Leonardo da Vinci. Since Bill is closely related to transporters, computers, etc., we used "Leo" to give the player the impression that he is smart and can come up with all kinds of ideas, just like Leonardo da Vinci.
RED	We purposely used the English word RED, rather than just the common noun ROUGE. We wanted to use English to show players that it's a person's name, and a cool one at that. In a way, it's similar to the Japanese version of Pokémon Red, where the name is "Red" [レッド] instead of "Aka".
BLUE	We purposely used the English word BLUE, rather than just the common noun BLEU. We wanted to use English to show players that it's a person's name, and a cool one at that. In a way, it's similar to the Japanese version of Pokémon Red, where the name is "Red" [レッド] instead of "Aka".
MAJOR BOB	The military rank that immediately comes to mind in France is MAJOR, so we used it at the beginning of the name. Then, the name BOB was used, which to French people sounds like one an American/American soldier would have. Combined with MAJOR, it also has a nice feel, like he's about to say "Hey, garçon!" with an English accent.
MORGANE	Since she controls Psychic-type Pokémon, we chose a name that gives that impression. M[O]RGANE is the name of the sister of King Arthur (a legendary British hero from the 5th to 6th century, very famous in Europe). She was also a magician, so we took MORGAN[E] from there.
AUGUSTE	It's a real name, and one that is often associated with elderly people. This brings to mind a wise man, and we thought it would be a nice way to express the fact that Blaine is all about quizzes.
SCOUT	The general perception is that it's the Cub Scouts (the step before the Boy Scouts) who do the insect collecting in France. This image is attached to the Scouts because the first step in becoming a Scout is to go into the forest to catch and collect insects. The hat worn by Bug Catcher trainers is also very similar to the hat worn by scouts in France. The "Boy Scout" is wandering around in the forest with a net and an insect cage in his hands, which is exactly what the Scouts do in France, hence the name SCOUT. On the other end, they are demarked as "Boy Scout" and "Girl Scout", just like their English counterparts.
KINESISTE	Taken from TÉLÉKINESISTE, which means "psychic". This was too long, so looked at the Japanese name and only kept the KINESISTE part.
LOUBARD	We used "LOUBARD", which means "hooligan/thug." Hooligans are famous in soccer, but are also skinheads more often than not. Matches the image of a Cue Ball, someone dangerous and unpredictable.
CANON	The word "canon" means "cannon", as in the weapon, but also "beautiful, gorgeous, good-looking woman" (without any lewd connotations). It may be a word that children around 10 don't understand, but by the time they reach 15 or older, they will gradually start using it.
CONSEIL 4	Since the number 4 is a key point in both the Japanese, English, and German names, we used the number 4 as-is, with CONSEIL meaning "council". Originally in Greece, the term was used to mean "those in the highest institutions of a country". Since the Elite 4 are in the building that houses the Pokémon League headquarters, the very best of Pokémon trainers, we thought it would give the impression that they are all treated differently from other trainers. The word "QUATRE" is the number "four". Since "[CO]NSEIL DES QUATRE" has too many letters, we abbreviated "QUATRE" to "4".
OLGA	When you think of water and ice in Europe, you probably think of Northern Europe (Scandinavia). It has many lakes and is famous for its glaciers. Olga was taken from a name actually used in Scandinavia. When French people hear this name, they immediately think of that region. It's like when you hear "Mario", you know he's Italian. Because of this, we think it's the perfect name to associate with water and ice.
ALDO	It was taken from Aldo Maccione, a French actor with a very burly, manly physique. In his films, he always plays roles that give a macho impression, so we can make a connection with Bruno's physique.
PETER	The name was taken from the story "Peter & Elliot the Dragon", about a boy (PETER) and his dragon.

Categories (分類)#

Rejected Names#

Early Name	Final Name	Reason for Rejection
POISSON ROUGE	POISSON	*Don't use (too many characters). Literal translation of "goldfish" [金魚].
CHAUVESOURIS	CHOVSOURIS	*Don't use (too many characters). Literal translation of "bat" [コウモリ].
COQUILLAGE	CARAPACE	*Literal translation of "carapace" [甲羅]. [A similar mistake to the English version's "SHELLFISH". Coquillage means "seashell", not "(an animal's) shell.]
PETIT OISEAU	MINOISEAU	*Don't use (too many characters). Literal translation of "little bird" [小鳥].
NOUVEAU TYPE	NOUVEAU	*Don't use (too many characters). Literal translation of "new species" [新種].

Notes#

Vaporeon, Snorlax, Pinsir, and Pidgeotto/Pidgeot's categories don't have etymologies listed. They are all the same as their original Japanese and other localized equivalents.
Blastoise and Kabuto/Kabutop's category (CARAPACE) doesn't have an etymology listed, though it's the same as its original Japanese meaning. French is the only language to have corrected the "SHELLFISH" mistranslation from the English release.
Meowth and Persian don't have etymologies listed. The former's (CHADEGOUT) is a contraction of "Chat de gouttière" ("alleycat"), while the latter's (CHADEVILLE) is a contraction of "Chat des villes" (city cat).

Kangaskhan's entry mistakenly uses the etymology of its German category (MUTTERTIER).
Koffing/Weezing's category is "POISON GAS" everywhere, even in Japan. French went with "GAZ MORTEL" ("DEADLY GAS"), despite a comment saying that it would be inappropriate given "Europe's past history".
Jigglypuff/Wigglytuff's category is "BALLOON" everywhere, even in Japan. French went with "BOUBOULE" ("CHUBBY"), despite a comment claiming it to be a direct translation.