Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield starters — Sobble

Apologies if I have been holding you up with the fire and grass starters —

Let us now transition to our Sword and Shield water type starter: Sobble

Sobble is going to be a lizard/chameleon Pokémon. The trailer shows that it becomes invisible or blends in with its surroundings like a chameleon.

I like the name “PonceDeLeon” after Juan Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer who famously searched Florida for the “Fountain of Youth”. (We all know that’s not real history kids. He was a Conquistador.)  How about “Three Coins” after “Three Coins in the Fountain”.

A water-squirting lizard/chameleon? I might be able to recycle names I have already used for Squirtle – such as “Wet Willie”, “I.P.Nightly” or “I.P.Freely”. Perhaps I could recycle Kecleon names – such as “Zelig”.

I may use “Sorbét” – after the frozen dessert made from sweetened, flavored water. Americans know it as “Sherbert”.

I noticed that a lot of the cosplayers show Sobble with a sad face or crying. Could that be some type of power in the game? There is no need to cry my little julep. “Julep” or “Mint Julep” might fit this bluish water-type.

“Blue Bayou” is after the Linda Ronstant song and the water park.

The name “Mystique” could be in honor of the X-Men character.

“Watersport” might be a fun name … if you like watersports. Ha.

I think I will name him “Spitball” since it is a tricky and wet baseball pitch, designed to deceive – Just like a water chameleon. Sobble is shown using a “water gun” like move in the S/S preview trailer (MAY NOT BE ACTUAL GAMEPLAY – HELLO?). Maybe the name “Gaylord” as in Gaylord Perry master of the spitball pitch … but perhaps I digress.

Here is an interesting one to consider: “Buys Ballot”.  Indeed it would be sneaky to use another person’s vote, however that is not what the name means. It is pronounced “boos beylo” after the Dutch meteorologist CHD Buys Ballot. The concept is useful when determining wind direction at sea … and yes, I digress once again.

It makes me feel like a kid … but I can’t wait for this game!

I hope you will check back to my blog this November 15, when I will have more nicknames for you to evaluate.

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield starters — Scorbunny

Yesterday I posted suggested nicknames for Grookey. Today I wll pick up with my “Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield starters” series with the fire-type starter  — Scorbunny.

No doubt – Scorbunny will be my starter Pokémon! A bunny rabbit that runs so fast that it scorches the ground.  He appears to wear a “nose strip”, perhaps to gain more oxygen while running? Looks like there is another pad on the foot however.

Ready Rarebit?

My gut reaction is to call him “Welsh”, or “Welsh D Red” or “WelshRarebit”, perhaps just “Rarebit”. The “Welsh” part goes with the British Isles theme of Pokémon S/S. Welsh is the language of Wales in Britain, and “Welsh Rabbit” (Welsh Rarebit) is a psychedelic, dream-inducing food.

“Trixie” would be great name for a female Scorbunny. This is in honor of the old “Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids” cereal commercial.

Also, Trixie (alternative spelling “Trixi” or “Trixy“) is a great stripper’s name (especially if she is a firey redhead. See a list of films the redheaded bunny starred in linked here … and yes, I see that I have digressed once again.

“RunRabbitRun” after the Pink Floyd lyric (time 3:14) if you click here.

“Lagomorpha” would be good for females, and it should still fit whatever the evolved form of Scorbunny looks like.

“Jumping Jack” or “Jumpin’ Jack” as in the Rolling Stones song. Maybe just “Jack Flash” as it is assumed that rabbits will jump … and Flash as in a flash of fire.

“BingBingBing” or “Ricochet” after  Hanna-Barbera’s rabbit character who could outrun bullets.

“Flambé” is another cooking related name, and “Frier Tuck” might be another British literature tye Robin Hood reference! I thought maybe “Flaming Moe” after that episode of The Simpsons.

“Fricassee” would work for male or female I think. Here is a recipe.

Hold on to your welsh wabbit until tomorrow, and we will consider nicknames for the water-type starter Sobble …

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield starters — Grookey

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield starters — Grookey

I will call her “Plantain Jane”

It looks like I am going to have to buy a Nintendo Switch. My son owns one already, but I want both of us to be able to play our own copies of the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games due this fall. It is already common knowledge in Nintendo world that most S/S players will play in “handheld mode.” I have also heard rumors about a “Switch Mini” which may be even more portable (?) than the current hardware. Perhaps this will be a hardware and software release like when Nintendo released the 2DS at the same time as Pokémon X and Y. I am out of the loop, so maybe you gamer’s gamers can let me know if you think that a Switch Mini will be released along with the Pokémon Sword and Shield on November 15 (?) this year. Smells like a bundle.

Here Nintendo – take my money: I will need a Switch, something to protect the Switch when I carry it around, and I will need two copies of the Pokémon game. for my son and I. Then I will need something like a t-shirt or a hat which identifies me as belonging to the Pokémon secret society … probably will need to update the online Pokébank … then purchase whatever downloadable content packs, subscriptions, etc.

I know everyone has already seen the first teaser trailer, but here then …

It used to be that I would not give my starter Pokémon a nickname, as the starters are unique in the game. Later however, especially after trading, then breeding new starters Pokémon from eggs, I would give the starter forms a nickname. I also like to keep my starter Pokémon in “baby” form, up until I finish the main story (become Champion, etc.).  I make my other Pokémon evolve, but I think it is cute when you battle the regional champ with a cute Pokémon, raised up to a near level 100.  I always let my starter evolve for the after-story however.

You know what would be a hoot? If the Pokémon developers could have different after stories and side missions available as downloadable content. (Cough, Cough … there’s another cash cow for you Nintendo!)

Sword/Shield will take place in the Galar Region, which is based on the island of Britain (similar to how Unova was New York, or Sinnoh was Hokkaido flipped upside-down). “Galar” seems to resonate like the word “gallant” as in a gallant English knight.

I sincerely hope that Nintendo accurately portrays the spirit of the Celtic/Gaelic cultures of the British Isles correctly.

Well you are here to hear my suggested nicknames. Let us assume there will still be the 12-letter limit, and other naming rules enforced, or at least censoring which makes sense.

Grookey: Hmmm … a grass-type monkey Pokémon? There are not a lot of monkeys in Britain …

My first choice of a name for female Grookey is “PlantainJane”. Plantains are a banana-like fruit, and monkeys like bananas of course. This is also a play on the phrase “Plain Jane” which is an archaic way of describing a drab or unattractive young woman. One who usually eschews makeup and/or sexy clothing. There is nothing plain about these plantains however!

“Plain Jane” like “Mary Jane” is also a word sometimes used as a euphemism for marijuana.

“Jain” might be good, in honor of the Indian religion Jainism. This dharmic religion has strict views on vegetarianism and respect for all living beings. Life is venerated so much that the local monkeys are allowed to have their run at certain temples in India.

Grookey has that stick held at the top of its head. If you really want a marijuana joke as a name I might suggest naming a male “Blunt”, or “Bluntz”, “Mr. Bluntz”, etc.

Grass-type and all that. Just calling it “Sticks” might be good, as the name is sometimes used for drummers.

Other names: “Rhythm Stick”, as in “hit-me-with-your-rhythm stick”.  These stay with the drumming theme: “Mook”, “Da Mook”, “Mookie”, “Melodius”, “The Mooch”. “Weed Wanker” might be a playful grass-type name, based on the “Weed Wacker” lawn cutting tool. There is nothing whacky about ths cosplay though …

“Sherwood” after “Sherwood Forrest” home to the British legend Robin Hood! I might suggest other forest or jungle type names. “The Coolest” for example, or perhaps “Coco-Nutz“.

I used “DrunkyMonkey” and “Mo Drunkie” because “the monkey … he likes to get drunkie, he sings boogie-woogie and it sounds real funky“.

If you remember the old department store, I might suggest “Monkey Ward“.

Another variation would be “Glockey” or “Nime mm” or “Glock 9”  after the 9mm handgun Grookey possessed in the fake meme which made its way into a Mexican newspaper announcement for Sword and Shield. Link here.

I hope that these nicknames sound logical — Please come back tomorrow night when I suggest nicknames for the next Sword and Shield starter!