What was Pokémon’s original Japanese brand name?

Pokémon’s original Japanese brand name was Pocket Monsters.

The Japanese games were titled Pocket Monsters Red and Green, written in Japanese as Poketto Monsutā. The shorter name Pokémon is an abbreviated form of that phrase and became the international brand identity.

The name refers to the creatures being carried in compact devices and equipment, including the Poké Balls used to catch them. The series’ Japanese title is commonly romanized as Pokémon, with an acute accent marking the intended pronunciation.

The original Japanese titles also explain why the first international games were called Pokémon Red and Blue instead of Red and Green. A Japanese Blue version was developed with revised visuals and code, and that version became the technical basis for the overseas releases. The names therefore reflect both the franchise’s Japanese origin and its later localization history.