The original Japanese title of the Pokémon franchise was Pocket Monsters.
The Japanese games were released as Pocket Monsters Red and Green, using the longer name that directly describes the concept of carrying collectible creatures. The name was later shortened internationally to Pokémon, a contraction of “Pocket Monsters.” The accented é became a distinctive part of the brand’s spelling in many markets.
The title changed during development because trademark concerns made the original naming difficult to use consistently. Early versions of the concept were called Capsule Monsters, followed by names such as CapuMon and KapuMon. The final Japanese title became Pocket Monsters, while Pokémon became the globally recognized form.
The shortened name is not the same as a generic translation of the creatures’ name. Pokémon is the official franchise name, while “Pocket Monsters” is the earlier title and remains part of the brand’s Japanese identity. The distinction is also why the first Japanese releases are commonly called Pocket Monsters Red and Green, even though international players know the corresponding games mainly as Pokémon Red and Blue.