What was the first name used for the Pokémon video-game project?

The first name used for the Pokémon video-game project was Capsule Monsters.

Satoshi Tajiri initially imagined a game involving collectible creatures stored and exchanged through a communication link. The working title Capsule Monsters reflected the idea that the creatures could be carried in capsules and released when needed.

The name proved difficult to trademark, and the development team commonly shortened it to Capumon during the early planning period. The project was later renamed Pocket Monsters, which became the Japanese brand name and the title used for the first games.

Outside Japan, the name was shortened and stylized as Pokémon. The change was more than a simple translation: it created a distinctive international trademark while preserving the idea of portable monsters. Because the public generally knows only the final name, Capsule Monsters is an especially easy early-history detail to miss.