What was Pokémon called before the shortened international name?

Before the shortened international name, Pokémon was called Pocket Monsters.

The Japanese franchise title is Poketto Monsutā, commonly translated as Pocket Monsters. The name reflects the original concept of carrying collectible creatures in small devices and sending them into battles. International releases used the shortened form Pokémon, with an acute accent added to help indicate pronunciation.

The project had an even earlier working title: Capsule Monsters. Satoshi Tajiri initially used that name during development, but it could not be trademarked. The project was subsequently renamed Pocket Monsters, which became Pokémon in abbreviated form.

Pocket Monsters also appears in the titles of the original Japanese games and anime. English-speaking audiences usually know those works by the Pokémon name, so the earlier title can be overlooked. The naming history shows how trademark issues and international branding shaped the franchise before its global launch.