Every Pokémon Protagonist’s Official Name
Summary
- The tradition of customizing trainer names in Pokémon games goes all the way back to Pokémon Red and Blue, but the main characters also have official names.
- The official names of Pokémon game protagonists have been confirmed in various ways, such as appearing as recruitable trainers in Pokémon Masters EX.
- While many players like to customize their Pokémon protagonist characters, there are official names available for those who prefer not to come up with their own.
The Pokémon series has long allowed for customizable trainer names, but all Pokémon protagonists have official names as well. The option to name the main characters of any Pokémon game is a tradition that dates back to Pokémon Red and Blue, where the default names were Satoshi and Shigeru, referencing Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo icon Shigeru Miyamoto. As time went on and characters from the mainline games were given roles in different titles, they received canon names that have stuck with them since.
The official names of the Pokémon game protagonists have been confirmed in a number of different ways. Many received canon names by appearing in Pokémon Masters EX as recruitable trainers. There are some games where the protagonist that isn’t selected becomes a character in the story, as is the case with the protagonist options for Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. The official Pokémon protagonist names are often the default choice when starting a game. Many like to customize Pokémon protagonist characters, but there are official ones available for those who can’t think of one.
The Official Names Of The Pokémon Protagonists
All the official names of the Pokémon protagonists are:
- Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow – Red
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen – Red and Leaf
- Pokémon Gold and Silver – Ethan and Kris
- Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver – Ethan and Lyra
- Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire – Brendan and May
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl – Lucas and Dawn
- Pokémon Black and White – Hilbert and Hilda
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 – Nate and Rosa
- Pokémon X and Y – Calem and Serena
- Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon – Elio and Selene
- Pokémon: Let’s Go! – Chase and Elaine
- Pokémon Sword and Shield – Victor and Gloria
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – Lucas and May
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Akari and Rei
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – Florian and Juliana
Why Pokémon Trainers Have Real Names
It may seem as if the Pokémon protagonist names are random, but a few of them do have deeper meanings. Victor and Gloria from Pokémon Sword and Shield are references to the lyrics of the UK national anthem, which mentions both victory and glory. For Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s trainers, Florian means “blooming” and Juliana means “youthful,” both of which represent the fact that the characters are young children who are studying at school. Pokémon protagonists are always kids for a reason, and Florian and Juliana are just starting out on their big Pokémon adventure.
It’s likely that the inevitable remakes of classic games like Pokémon Black and White will retain the name of their Pokémon trainer protagonists, barring some massive change in the storyline that shakes things up. Recent games removed the ability to name a trainer’s rivals, which is a shame, especially as the games still lack proper voice acting that might necessitate the removal of certain name customization for the purpose of recording lines. Hopefully, the Pokémon tradition of offering official protagonist names while allowing trainers to choose their own alternatives will long endure.
