What name was used for the Pokémon franchise in Japan when it first launched?

The Pokémon franchise first launched in Japan under the name Pocket Monsters.

The Japanese game titles were Pocket Monsters Red and Green, written as Poketto Monsutā. The international brand was shortened to Pokémon, a stylized form derived from the phrase Pocket Monsters.

The accented é in Pokémon helps distinguish the brand’s pronunciation and spelling. In English-language markets, the shorter name was used consistently across the games, anime, trading cards, and merchandise.

The original Japanese title also explains why the franchise’s early Japanese releases are often described as Pocket Monsters Red and Green rather than Pokémon Red and Green. International releases used Red and Blue instead of the Japanese Green version.