What was the Japanese name of the Pokémon franchise when it launched?

The Pokémon franchise launched in Japan under the name Pocket Monsters. The Japanese title is written as ポケットモンスター and commonly transliterated as Poketto Monsutā.

The shortened international name Pokémon comes from the contraction of “Pocket Monsters.” It includes an acute accent over the e, which distinguishes the brand's official spelling from the ordinary English phrase “pocket monsters.” The name reflects the series premise of carrying creatures in compact Poké Balls.

The Japanese games released in 1996 were titled Pocket Monsters Red and Green. The television anime also used Pocket Monsters as its Japanese title, while many international markets adopted Pokémon for the games, series, cards, and merchandise.

The title can create confusion because “Pokémon” is now used globally, while “Pocket Monsters” remains important in the franchise's Japanese history. It is not the name of a separate series or a later spin-off; it is the original Japanese branding from which the internationally familiar name developed.