What is the English name of the Pokémon anime’s main trainer?

The Pokémon anime’s main trainer is named Ash Ketchum in English.

Ash is the central protagonist of the original Pokémon animated series. He travels through multiple regions, enters Pokémon League competitions, and develops a long-running partnership with Pikachu. In the Japanese version, the character is named Satoshi, linking him to Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri.

Ash was designed by Atsuko Nishida and is loosely based on Red, the player character from Pokémon Red and Blue. His rival Gary Oak is similarly connected to Blue, the rival character from the games. These relationships helped the anime adapt the games without simply reproducing the player's silent role.

The surname Ketchum connects to the franchise's English marketing slogan, “Gotta catch 'em all!” His name is therefore not the same in every language. Japanese viewers know him as Satoshi, while Ash Ketchum is the established English localization used in the anime, films, games, and merchandise.