What name was the original Pokémon video-game project commonly shortened from?

The original Pokémon video-game project was commonly shortened from “Pocket Monsters.”

Satoshi Tajiri initially called the project Capsule Monsters, inspired by the idea of keeping creatures in capsules. Because that name could not be trademarked, the project was renamed Pocket Monsters, the Japanese title used for the franchise’s beginning.

The abbreviated form Pokémon became the international brand name. The acute accent over the e was added to guide pronunciation in markets where the word might otherwise be read differently.

The name is sometimes explained as simply meaning “pocket monsters,” but the development history includes both Capsule Monsters and Pocket Monsters. Pokémon began with the Game Boy games Pocket Monsters Red and Green, released in Japan in 1996, before expanding into animation, trading cards, films, merchandise, and other games.