What was the original full title of the Pokémon franchise in Japan?

The original full title of the Pokémon franchise in Japan was Pocket Monsters.

The Japanese games were titled Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green, and the animated series was also known domestically as Pocket Monsters. Pokémon is the abbreviated international form of that title, written with an acute accent over the e to guide pronunciation in languages using the Latin alphabet.

The name is commonly shortened to Pokémon in everyday use, so many people do not encounter the full original title. The abbreviation also became necessary for the franchise's international identity, where the complete English words could create naming and trademark complications in different markets.

The title describes the central premise: collectible creatures small enough to carry in a pocket. The concept became broader than the name suggests, expanding into role-playing games, animation, films, cards, manga, toys, and mobile games while retaining the same creature-collecting foundation.