movies/tv Do Pokémon say their names or are they named after what they say?

[Stella Star 69]

Pokémon Paradox

Vote in the poll what you think then elaborate your opinion in the comments! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,302]

Neither: Pokemon make horrible ear-splitting noises that sound vaguely like "sperkzizzlesplaghzt" or "vriingvriing-vriingvriing."

 

You know, in the games.

[GeekySonic 1,150]

Well, some Pokemon say their names... but some others just growl or screech. I'm just going to guess that the Pokemon that say their names are named after what they say. The rest are just cooked up randomly.

[PiratePony 8,475]

This is the new "if a tree falls."

[cmarston1 5,959]

I guess this is the pokemon equivalent to the chicken and the egg. The world may never know.

[Castle Bleck 19,361]

Most likely named after what they say.

 

Would be unfathomably convenient for them to start saying whatever people named them, after all.

 

Though, as GeekySonic said, the non-talking ones are still most likely custom-named.

Edited March 22, 2016 by A.V.

[AmberDust 1,118]

I'd like to think that, in the anime, the language developed based on Pokémon's speech. Like, the word "charred" came from Charmander's cry/name, etc.

 

Usually I just don't think about it though.

[Rainbow Diamonds 282]

I'm pretty sure Pikachu won't start saying "Yellow Spark" Just because you call it a yellow spark. I will say they're named after what they say. 

[Stormlight 1,371]

I believe that the Pokemon are named after what they say.

 

It would be confusing for a Pokemon like Ekans having to say something like "Legless Wonder" if someone gave it that type of name.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,492]

Neeeeever thought of this before. :|  Upon thinking of it now though, I have to gowith what everyone else is saying, they most likely are named after what they say, with the more random names being named with whatever method they use. 

 

If they said what they are named, I would totally name a Pokemon SnibblyWibblyBibblyGibbly. That would be interesting. 

[KatonRyu 1,033]

I figure they're named after what they say, since that's sometimes the case IRL as well.

 

http://mentalfloss.com/article/60331/12-animals-named-after-noises-they-make

Not a comprehensive list, nor is it usually as clear IRL as it is in Pokemon, but still.

 

On a side note, I wonder why Pokemon persist in speaking the way they do. They're clearly sapient creatures who understand humans and as Meowth proves they are physiologically capable of making human sounds. You'd think Pikachu would have learned to talk normally by now.