What was Pokémon initially called during its early development at Game Freak?

Pokémon was initially called Capsule Monsters during its early development at Game Freak.

Satoshi Tajiri first imagined a creature-collecting game inspired by insects, capsule toys, and the Game Boy’s link cable. The working concept was named Capsule Monsters, often shortened informally to Capumon by the development team.

The title had to change because Capsule Monsters could not be trademarked. The project eventually became Pocket Monsters, the Japanese name represented internationally by Pokémon. The final shortened brand name was derived from the romanized phrase “Pocket Monsters.”

Pocket Monsters is therefore not the earliest working title, even though it is the official Japanese franchise name. Capsule Monsters belongs to the game’s development history and is often remembered as evidence of how the concept evolved before release.