Pokémon has remained one of the most beloved video game franchises globally since the debut of Pokémon Red and Blue in 1996. On Thursday (October 16), enthusiasts will be treated to a fresh instalment in the franchise, Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
However, ahead of the new title’s launch, it appears many Pokémon fans are clueless about how one of the franchise’s most iconic creatures, Pikachu, acquired its name. For devotees of the Pokémon series, the charming yellow creature is instantly identifiable.
Pikachu burst onto the scene with the 1996 release of the first two games and quickly became a mascot for the mammoth Nintendo franchise.
In the animated series, Ash Ketchum forms a bond with Pikachu as his initial companion, and the fondness for Pikachu extended into the realm of video games. In 1998 (1999 in the US and 2000 in Europe), Pokémon Yellow was released, offering gamers the opportunity to embark on their adventures with Pikachu as well.
This iconic Pokémon has since featured in nearly every mainline game, starred in numerous films, and even headlined its standalone feature, Detective Pikachu, in 2019. But one enigma still lingers – where did the cherished creature get its name?
As we commemorate the launch of Pokémon Legends: Z-A this week, let’s delve into the hidden layers of Pikachu’s name.
A woman named Sayaka revealed the secret on TikTok, explaining that the name is a fusion of two Japanese terms. The endearing and iconic Pikachu’s name has an intriguing origin rooted in Japanese onomatopoeia.
The first part of the name, “pika”, comes from the Japanese word for the sound of a lightning flash or the sparkle of something shiny. The latter half, “chu”, copies the squeak of a mouse.
Together, they basically mean “lightning mouse”, which perfectly captures Pikachu’s electric character.
In a 2009 GamePro interview, series director Junichi Masuda confessed that creating Pikachu’s name was particularly difficult because it needed to appeal to fans worldwide.
He explained: “Yes, it’s incredibly difficult! Especially [coming] up with a name [that] is universal here, in the US or Europe, such as Pikachu, Dialga, Palkia, and Lucario. Those are the names that you have to come up with, appealing to all of the audiences. That’s very difficult.”
Pikachu’s evolved form, Raichu, follows a similar naming convention. “Chu” keeps its meaning, while “Rai” is borrowed from the Japanese character for “thunder”.
Nevertheless, the pre-evolution, Pichu, breaks this pattern. This smaller version wasn’t part of the original game selection and only emerged in the second generation with Pokémon Gold and Silver, without any deeper meaning in its name.
Pikachu was already a sensation when the Pokémon universe introduced Pichu, who received a name that doesn’t carry much importance; it appears like just a charming variation of Pikachu to represent a smaller or infant version.
However, here’s a little-known fact: there were once plans for a third evolution following Raichu named Gorochu.
This additional evolution never made it into the game due to concerns about the limited space on the original game cartridges and issues with maintaining game fairness and balance.
The “goro” in the proposed Gorochu is a sound symbolism intended to evoke the rumble of thunder.