I know I'm probably a weirdo for this, but one day I got to thinking, what if Pokemon was lingually accurate? Like, if characters were named appropriately based on their region? So I actually went through Bulbapedia and compiled a list of every major character's names in other languages. And just in case anyone else was curious, I thought I'd share it.
I'm going from the English base, so I'm majorly not including Unova, Galar, and most of Alola. Ones that are weird or are migrants I give explanations for.
Kanto: Japanese
Red: Same in English and Japanese
Leaf: Same in English and Japanese
Blue: Technically referred to as Green in Japanese since the original games were Red and Green (hence remakes being FireRed and LeafGreen), but is considered Blue internationally and it makes more sense to me (Red picks Charmander, rival picks Squirtle to be better, thus Blue).
Kakeru (Chase)
Ayumi (Elaine)
Shin (Trace)
Takeshi (Brock)
Kasumi (Misty)
Lt. Surge: His original title is "The Lightning American" and there's a whole tribute gym to his in Alola, so it's very likely he's from an America-inspired region, thus English name.
Erika: Same in English and Japanese
Kyou (Koga)
Anzu (Janine)
Natsume (Sabrina)
Katsura (Blaine)
Kanna (Lorelei)
Siba (Bruno)
Kikuko (Agatha)
Wataru (Lance)
Rocket-dan (Team Rocket): Literally written in katakana "ro-ke-t(su)-to"
Sakaki (Giovanni)
Ohkido Yukinari-hakase (Professor Samuel Oak)
Johto: Japanese
Hibiki (Ethan)
Kris: Same in English and Japanese
Kotone (Lyra)
Silver: Same in English and Japanese
Hayato (Falkner)
Tsukushi (Bugsy)
Akane (Whitney)
Matsuba (Morty)
Shijima (Chuck)
Mikan (Jasmine)
Yanagi (Pryce)
Ibuki (Clair)
Itsuki (Will)
Karin (Karen)
Minaki (Eusine)
Apollo (Archer)
Athena (Arianna)
Lambda (Petrel)
Lance (Proton): Yes, this is confusing with the Indigo Champion's English name being Lance.
Utsugi-hakase (Professor Elm)
Hoenn: Japanese
Yuuki (Brendan)
Haruka (May)
Mitsuru (Wally)
Tsutsuji (Roxanne)
Touki (Brawly)
Tessen (Wattson)
Asuna (Flannery)
Senri (Norman)
Nagi (Winona)
Fū (Tate)
Lan (Liza)
Juan: His Japanese name is Adan, but he uses different foreign words by localization (English in Japanese, Spanish in Viz's anime dub, and French in the Adventures manga's translation) so is likely foreign. Juan is his name in English, German, and French.
Mikuri (Wallace)
Rune no Tami (Sootopolitan)
Kagetsu (Sidney)
Fuyou (Phoebe)
Glacia: Her name in Japanese is Prim, but she's implied to be from a more Western-based region. Glacia is her name in both English and French.
Genji (Drake)
Tsuwabuki Daigo (Steven Stone)
Datsura (Noland)
Factory Head: Same in English and Japanese
Kogomi (Greta)
Arena Captain (Arena Tycoon)
Tucker: Implied to be foreign, especially as his Japanese name is Heath. Tucker is his English name, and most other Romantic translations are loosely similar and come from the respective languages' word for "tactics".
Dome Superstar (Dome Ace)
Azami (Lucy)
Tube Queen (Pike Queen)
Ukon (Spenser)
Palace Guardian (Palace Maven)
Jindai (Brandon)
Pyramid King: Same in English and Japanese
Lila (Anabel)
Tower Tycoon (Salon Maiden)
Higana (Zinnia)
Denshousha (Lorekeeper)
Lutia (Lisia)
Lutti (Lissi)
Tylulu (Ali): Lisia's Altaria
Magma-dan (Team Magma): Literally written in katakana "ma-gu-ma"
Matsubusa (Maxie)
Kagari (Courtney)
Homura (Tabitha)
Aqua-dan (Team Aqua): Literally written in katakana "a-ku-a"
Aogiri (Archie)
Ushio (Matt)
Izumi (Shelly)
Odomaki-hakase (Professor Birch)
Sinnoh: Japanese
Kouki (Lucas)
Hikari (Dawn)
Jun (Barry)
Hyouta (Roark)
Natane (Gardenia)
Sumomo (Maylene)
Maximum Mask (Crasher Wake): Maybe a little more clearly than the English name, it's a stage name and his real name is unknown. He's called "Maxi" for short, so it could just be that.
Fantina or Kiméra: Her name in Japanese is Melissa, which is a clearly Western name along with using foreign phrases. The difficulty here is in original Japanese (as well as French, logically) she speaks English, while most other localizations she speaks French. Fantina is her name in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Kiméra is her name in French.
Suzuna (Candice)
Denzi (Volkner)
Ryou (Aaron)
Kikuno (Bertha)
Ōba (Flint)
Goyou (Lucian)
Shirona (Cynthia)
Kurotsugu (Palmer)
Tower Tycoon: Same in English and Japanese
Neziki (Thorton)
Factory Head: Same in English and Japanese
Dahlia: Same in English and Japanese
Roulette Goddess (Arcade Star)
Kokuran (Darach): His Lady may be likely Unovan, but his lineage is never specified and he seems to have a Hisuian ancestor, so him being from Sinnoh is likely, hence Japanese name.
Castle Butler (Castle Valet)
Argenta or Kate: Kate is her name in Japanese and is clearly Western. Argenta is her name in English, German, and Spanish.
Stage Madonna (Hall Matron)
Momi (Cheryl)
Gen (Riley)
Baku (Buck)
Miru (Mira)
Mai (Marley)
Looker: Honestly, I just prefer Looker because it seems smoother to say as a codename than his Japanese codename which is Handsome. Looker also has the double meaning that Handsome doesn't, like he's looking/watching, because he's a detective. Looker is also his name in Portuguese, and sometimes in German, Spanish, and Italian. Every one of his codenames is a reference to his appearance ex. LeBelle in German and Beladonis in French.
Ginga-dan (Team Galaxy)
Akagi (Cyrus)
Mars: Same in English and Japanese
Jupiter: Same in English and Japanese
Saturn: Same in English and Japanese
Pluto (Charon)
Nanakamado-hakase (Professor Rowan)
Hisui: Japanese
Teru (Rei)
Chō satai (Survey Corps' (Trainer class))
Shō (Akari)
Chō satai (Survey Corps' (Trainer class))
Ginga-dan (Galaxy Expedition Team): Shares it's name with the modern Team Galaxy in Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and Italian.
Kamado or Denboku: His original home region is unknown and he bears Galarian armor that looks strikingly similar to Kalosian Wikstrom. Denboku is from raidenboku, an alternate reading of the Japanese rowan, nanakamado, which is Rowan's Japanese name. Kamado also comes from nanakamado.
Shimaboshi (Cyllene): She is originally from Hoenn, but Hoenn is also Japanese so that means nothing for her name.
Perilla (Zisu)
Keibi-tai (Security Corps)
Kine (Pesselle)
Iryō-tai (Medical Corps)
Tao Hua: Same in English and Japanese
Seizō-tai (Supply Corps)
Sazanka (Sanqua)
Kenchiku-tai (Construction Corps)
Nabana (Colza): His original region is apparently unknown, but Japanese is still a safe bet. Also most other localizations stem from Nabana rather than Colza.
Hatasaku-tai (Agriculture Corps)
Haku (Rye)
Hatasaku-tai (Agriculture Corps)
Mube (Beni): His home region is apparently unknown, but Japanese is a safe bet.
Imozuru-tei (The Wallflower): [directly from Bulbapedia] From imozuru (vines of Japanese mountain yam or sweet potato), Mitsuru (Wally), and tei (common suffix in restaurant names)
Taisai (Choy)
Sharon (Anthe): Oddly, Sharon is her Japanese name.
Kongō-dan (Diamond Clan)
Seki (Adaman)
Osa (Clan Leader)
Yone (Mai)
Captain (Warden)
Hinatsu (Arezu)
Captain (Warden)
Susuki (Iscan)
Captain (Warden)
Tsubaki (Melli)
Captain (Warden)
Wasabi (Sabi)
Captain (Warden)
Shinju-dan (Pearl Clan)
Kai (Irida)
Osa (Clan Leader)
Kikui (Lian)
Captain (Warden)
Yūgao (Calaba)
Captain (Warden)
Garana (Palina)
Captain (Warden)
Hamarenge (Gaeric)
Captain (Warden)
Shō-Chiku-Ba (Miss Fortunes)
Omatsu (Charm)
Yatō (Bandit)
Otake (Clover)
Yatō (Bandit)
Oume (Coin)
Yatō (Bandit)
Ichō Shōkai (Ginkgo Guild)
Ginnan (Ginter)
Tsuiri (Tuli)
Volo: Same in English and Japanese
Pokemon Tsukai (Pokemon Wielder)
Cogito (Cogita): She is a whole ass mystery, but Cogita (her name in English and German) is just a (non-existent) feminine form of Cogito, her Japanese name, which comes from Latin and basically means "I think", as in Decaretes' "cogito, ergo sum" or "I think, therefore I am". French and Chinese use the respective language's variation of the phrase as a base for her name, while Spanish and Italian use Greek words, for "wisdom" and "intelligence" respectively.
Professor Laventon: He's Galarian, so his name is English.
Unova: English
The only ones I'm doing here are ones that AREN'T necessarily the English version.
Clay or Yakon: I've heard Clay may play on Japanese businessman tropes, and he has an ancestor in Hisui, so his name could be either of these.
Lacey or Taro: As Clay's daughter, her situation is the same as his.
Cyrano or Mirtilo: English and Spanish names respectively. Lives in Unova, but as Clavel's classmate could be from Paldea maybe?
Saffron or Milo: As above
Kalos: French
Kalem (Calem)
Serena: Same in English and French
Sannah (Shauna)
Trevor: Same in English and French
Tierno: Same in English and French
Violette (Viola)
Lino (Grant)
Cornélia (Korrina)
Héritière (Successor)
Amaro (Ramos)
Lem (Clemont)
Mache (Valerie): Mache is actually originally from Johto, hence her Japanese name.
Astera (Olympia)
Urup (Wulfric): Given he likely has a Hisuian ancestor, it wouldn't be unlikely for his name to be Japanese. Luckily, his Japanese and French names are the same!
Malva: Same in English and French
Narcisse (Siebold)
Wikstrom or Thyméo: Since we know his armor is likely Galarian his English name isn't out of place, but his French name is Thyméo.
Dracéna (Drasna)
Dianthéa (Diantha)
Grande-Duchesse (Grand Duchess)
Aurore (Morgan)
Méridia (Dana)
Vesper (Evelyn)
Nix (Nita)
Millie (Emma)
Elili (Essentia)
Femme Louche (Suspicious Woman)
Enfant Louche (Suspicious Child)
Jeune Femme Louche (Suspicious Lady)
Gribouille (Mimi): Millie's Espurr friend
Team Flare: Apparently the same in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
Lysandre: Same in English and French
Ancolie (Aliana)
Brasénie (Bryony)
Cyane (Celosia)
Myosotis (Mable)
Xanthin (Xerosic)
Professeur Platane (Professor Sycamore): Somewhat surprisingly, his Japanese and French names are the same, though they do both originate from the French word platane.
Alola: English
Hawaii is an American state, and there isn't a Native Hawaiian translation of the games, so English is the default language here. But Hawaii does have ties to the East, so I will use some of the Japanese names if they make more sense to me. Most are just slight spelling changes anyhow.
Yo (Elio): Moved from Kanto to Alola, so Japanese name.
Mizuki (Selene): Moved from Kanto to Alola, so Japanese name.
Ma'o (Mallow): Technically her Japanese name is just Mao, but ma'o is the Hawaiian word for Hawaiian cotton and I feel spelling it that way feels better.
Sophocles or Māmane: Both names after the same plant, the Sophora chrysophylla, it's common and local Hawaiian name being māmane.
Hapu'u (Hapu): Hapu'u is her name in Japanese and comes from hāpuʻu, the Hawaaian tree fern.
Molayne or Mullein: Molayne is just a different spelling tbh and I kinda think it looks better.
Skipping Galar; there aren't really a lot of clear foreigners besides Kabu whose name is the same.
Paldea: Spanish and Portuguese
I look at both languages because Paldea is based on the Iberian Peninsula and not just Spain. However, with Portuguese, I'm having to look at Brazilian Portuguese, which is not quite the same as European Portuguese, because that's almost all that's on Bulbapedia. I generally choose whether to use Spanish or Portuguese based on if said name is also the same as the English and/or Japanese name. Or default if only one is available.
Also uhh my order might be a bit weird here because I didn't get to actually play these games. I kinda assumed you go through the teachers before Gym Leaders, so...yeah. I can re-order it later if that's wrong or confusing.
Florian: From an unknown region, but the same in English, German, Spanish, French, and Italian.
Juliana: From an unknown region, but the same in English, German, Spanish, French, and Italian.
Nemo(?): She is noted to not be from Paldea but her home isn't specified so it could be anything. Nemona is her name in English and E. Portuguese, Nemo in Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Thai, Noêmia in B. Portuguese, Nemila in German, Nemola in Indonesian, and Nemi in Italian. The odd ones out are Mencía in Spanish and Menzi in French.
Arven: Same in English and B. Portuguese
Academia Naranja (Naranja Academy)
Academia Uva (Uva Academy)
Miriam: Same in English and B. Portuguese
Saguaro: Same in English, Japanese, and B. Portuguese (as well as German and French)
Dendra: Same in English and B. Portuguese
Cloe or Mora (Raifort): Cloe is her name in Spanish, and Mora is her name in French, which I only include because her English/Japanese name Raifort is from the French word for horseradish apparently, so maybe she's Kalosian.
Silvio (Salvatore)
Mila (Tyme)
Jacques (Jacq): The B. Portuguese name as it's closer to his English name. His Spanish name is Cinio, which is Spanish for his Japanese name, Zinnia, which could be confusing considering Higana.
Clavel: Same in Japanese, Spanish, German, French, and Italian. English and B. Portuguese just adds another L.
Clive: Same in English and B. Portuguese
Director Escolar (Director)
Catarina (Katy): Her B. Portuguese name, which is closer to her name in English (Katy) and Japanese (Kaede).
Brais or Brás (Brassius): His Spanish and B. Portuguese names respectively, as both are very close to his English name.
Kissera (Iono): Her B. Portuguese name, comes from "O que será?" apparently meaning "what will it be?", which is closer to the intent behind her name in Japanese (Nanjyamo, name given to an unusually large tree that grows in a particular place; literally meaning "What is it?") and English (Iono, as in "I don't know") than her Spanish name, e-Nigma. Which makes me think of the Riddler.
Fuco (Kufo)
Laureano or Lauro (Larry): His Spanish and B. Portuguese names respectively. Larry could be a nickname for either though.
Lima or Citrina (Ryme): Her Spanish and B. Portuguese names respectively. Lima has the same puns on lime and rhyme that English and Japanese does, but tbh makes me think more of lima beans. Citrina is from citrino (citrus).
Tuli or Tulipa (Tulip): Her Spanish and B. Portuguese names respectively.
Grusha: Actually may be from an unrevealed Russian region as his name is Russian. It's also the same in most languages.
Cayena or Kaya (Rika): Her Spanish and B. Portuguese names respectively. Both come from cayenne, which isn't in her Japanese or English names. Her Japanese name is Chili, and Rika comes from paprika.
Poppy: Her name in English, Japanese, and B. Portuguese as well as German and Indonesian.
Hassel?: From and unknown region so could literally be anything, and all his names are very different.
Ságita or Guita (Geeta): Her Spanish and B. Portuguese names respectively.
Supercampeona (Top Champion)
Team Star: Same in English and Spanish as well as German, French, and Italian
Penny: Actually from Galar, so her English name.
Cassiopeia or Casiopea: English and Spanish forms respectively, referencing the constellation.
Giacomo: Same in English and B. Portuguese
DJ Vil (DJ Vice)
Melo or Mélia (Mela): Spanish and B. Portuguese respectively.
Henzo (Atticus): Spanish name. Not like English or Japanese name, but his whole ninja theming makes Henzo fit better than the B. Portuguese Érico.
Ortega: Same in English and B. Portuguese, similar to Japanese, French, and Korean Ortiga.
Erin or Êri (Eri): Spanish and B. Portuguese respectively.
Profesor Sada: Same in English and EUROPEAN Portuguese, listed for once.
Profesor Turo: Same in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Kitakami: Japanese
Not a region itself I don't think, but it's not connected to a specific region I don't think, so.
Zeiyu (Carmine)
Suguri (Kieran)
Sugu (Kiki)
Sazare (Perrin): Actually from Sinnoh, but this is where you meet her so here she is.
Shashinka (Photographer)
What do you think? Did I forget anyone important?
Okay this took way too long for something probably no one will see okaybaiiiiii
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Happy Birthday Akira Ishida! (Nov 2)
This is mostly taken from the post I made for him last year, but I added some roles and videos which are fun!
He’s a veteran voice actor who’s quite reserved. He’s so popular that he refuses roles but tries to not look rude. According to Aoi Yuuki, even though she recorded multiple scenes with Akira Ishida for Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou, she never talked to him. Sugita just replied, “It’s like that for everyone.” When some new girls were introducing himself, he just replied, “Ah, it’s fine, I’m not gonna remember anyway” Nakamura (who was there) said, “ He said that like he was rejecting them!” Even the Gintama cast (Rie Kugimiya and Sugita) had a hard time inviting him for udon after recording. And speaking of Gintama, when recording the Shinsengumi Crisis arc, a cast member asked him to bring him a coffee pod to which he responded, “Go to hell!” Ironically, that character later died that arc anyway. He doesn’t sing his character songs anymore since he doesn’t think it’s good enough for people to actually pay money for. But he can rely on his good friend Hoshi Souichirou; it’s even said that he won’t go to a party unless his friend is present. A lot of seiyuu look up to him including Miyuki Sawashiro, Sakurai Takahiro, Yuki Kaida, Masaya Onosaka, Aoi Shouta, and Mai Nakahara.
[Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4]
The following are some famous roles from him. I obviously won’t be able to include some because he has so many. I think I’ll put a keep reading line just because he has so many roles… and I’ll put any links to videos or audio clips that I think are worth viewing.
Eishi Tsukasa - Food Wars
Hideo Shimada - Parasyte
Natori Shuuichi - Natsume’s Book of Friends
President - Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou
[This anime is kind of a Gintama reunion in terms of the cast]
Cancer Cell - Cells at Work
[I wanted to feel bad for him, but he’s literally cancer. Akira’s voice acting helped a lot in making the viewers feel bad for this cell, and if you can make us feel bad for a cancer cell, that means you’re doing something right]
Akise Aru - Mirai Nikki
[RIP he was pitted against a yandere. SPOILER SCENE]
Izana Wistalia - Akagami no Shirayuki-hime
Gaara - Naruto
[One of my favourite characters in the series.]
Kent - Amnesia
Togami Byakuya - Danganronpa
Zeref - Fairy Tail
Athrun Zala - Gundam Seed Destiny
Ryuunosuke Uryuu - Fate/Zero
[It’s hard to find a non-spoiler gif. SPOILER SCENE]
Yunan - Magi
Mikage - Kamisama Hajimemashita
Femt - Kekkai Sensen
[Kekkai Sensen was lowkey a Gintama cast reunion.]
Cavendish - One Piece
[CLIP]
Shuusei Kagari - Psycho-Pass
Xerxes Break - Pandora Hearts
Fish Eye - Sailor Moon
[This character inspired Aoi Shouta. AUDIO]
Ryouji Mochizuki - Persona 3
Makoto Yuuki - Persona 3
N - Pokemon
Daigo Tsuwabuki - Pokemon
Yoshinobu Kobuta - Sakamoto Desu Ga?
Yellow Radio - Accel World
Touji Souya - 3-gatsu no Lion
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - Bungou Stray Dog
Inari - Kyousou Giga
(I find a lot of characters in this anime look similar or have similar names so I might’ve gotten this one mixed up!)
Yakumo Yuurakutei - Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
Badou Nails - Dogs: Bullets and Carnage
Mitsuru Kamekura - Kara no Kyoukai
Nagisa Kaworu - Evangelion
[NON-SPOILER SCENE + SPOILER SCENE]
Katsura Kotarou - Gintama
[Best of Katsura (but all is best about Katsura)]
Videos
It’s also worth checking out his appearance on Naruto Nippon’s radio show! (the link is to the second part but you can always put the previous video on the playlist)
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