Pokémon Nicknames: Rockruff and Lycanroc

A L O L A    C O U S I N S !

Cute little wolf-cub/puppy Rockruff (in Japanese: イワンコ  “Iwanko”) is a Rock-type Pokémon introduced in the Alola Region (Generation 7, I think ).

Just caught at Ten Carrot Hill.?

Getting ready to evolve?

Rockruff evolves into Lycanroc (in Japanese: ルガルガン  “Lugarugan”) starting at level 25, where it remain a Rock-type. Lycanroc has two forms however. The Midday Form – when Lycanroc evolves in the Pokémon Sun game, and Midnight Form – when it evolves in Pokémon Moon. (Reference: Bulbapedia.)

I often like to give a Rockruff a “rock” type name from the rock and mineral terminology I learned in Geology 101. Names like “Silica”  are cute for a Rockruff, and I think it still works if you evolve it into the Midday-Form Lycanroc.

Names like “Granite”, “Mica” or even “Formica” are examples. You should choose “rough” type rock names, or rocks which are sandy in color/texture. You would not name a Rockruff “Obsidian” although that might be OK for the Midnight-Form of Lycanroc.

Ha! A nice geology joke!

A related name might be “Brownstone” after the type of apartment building condos which rich yuppies like to purchase and gentrify. Those in my generation may be tempted to name Midday Lycanroc “Steppenwolf“. Get your motor runnin’.  Or how about “Wulfie” which was what Mozart’s wife called the great composer in the film Amadeus. … (Denny sighs) … Oy.

The Midnight-Form of Lycanroc is a Werewolf of sorts. This form has a deep-red coloration which matches the bloodthirsty character of a were- beast. I named my first Lycanroc Red Moon, then another as Blood Moon. (An alternative name is “Luna Rossa”if you want to be fancy.) A “red moon” occurs during a lunar eclipse. A Blood-Moon (as in “The Blood Moon Prophesy”) is astronomically the same thing as a red moon, it just sounds scarier. Fortunately, the four blood moons in a row predicted by the Christian prophesy, came and went in 2015 … and yet there was no end-of-the-world apocalypse. Wow … I am so glad that I did not cash in my retirement account, and then exchange it all for lap dances and boom-boom rooms … and … yes … I can see that I digress once again.

“Bloodlust” might be a good name for this horny red wolf. On this theme of werewolves, lycanthropes and moons you could name Lycanroc “Bad Moon” as in “A Bad Moon Rising“. Hey … if you have the SHINY version of this Pokémon , you should name it “Blue-Moon”!

How about “Red Whine” or “Red-Blooded“? “Aunt Flo” might be another lunar-cycle name for female Lycanroc. “Time-of-Moon” or “TimeOfMonth” may fit.

Ahem … oh yeah … I like to think that Rockruff is a playful wolf pup.

Oh yeah? Well the Japanese name for Rockruff is “I-wank-o” … so there.

Ha. You catch easily catch these low-level Rockruff and name them something silly. What would you do if you received a wolf pup named  “I-Poop-Rocks” over the Wondertrade?

One of my favorite Rockruff names is “Roofies”, but not for the date-rape drug utilized by frat boy jocks. Dogs say “roof!” as a bark – so a name like  “Roofy” is appropriate.

If you are going to sue about that bad night, maybe don’t use a dog as a lawyer.

There is the old joke about the guy who has a talking dog. He takes the dog to a vaudeville talent scout, and says that the dog can talk. The owner asks the dog: “What is on the top of a house?” The dog barks, and the man says “SEE … he said ROOF.” Next he asks: “What does sandpaper feel like?” and the dog barks again. “See ..he said ROUGH”. The talent scout is getting annoyed when the man asks the dog “Who was the greatest baseball player ever?” and the dog barks again. “See…” the dog owner says “He said RUTH … as in Babe Ruth!”. Of course the man and his dog are kicked out to the street, where the dog looks up and says “Maybe I should have said Stan Musial?”

So use “RuffRoofRuth” for your females. “Rough Rolf” for a male puppy.

What is the name for your wolf-pup Pokémon? Please comment!

Pokémon Nicknames: Ponyta and Rapidash

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“Oh, they say she died one winter
   When there came a killing frost
   And the pony she named Wildfire
   Busted down his stall
   In a blizzard he was lost

   She ran callin’ Wildfire …. “

Ponyta (in Japanese: ポニータ “Ponyta”) is a Fire-type Pokémon. Ponyta evolves into another “fire horse” Rapidash (in Japanese: ギャロップ “Gallop”) at level 40, where it remains a Fire-type.

Ponyta is probably my favorite Pokémon!  Although it is a not as powerful as the evolved Rapidash, I like that Ponyta is NOT a unicorn. I still like Rapidash, but I try not to see that horn on its forehead. The ears kind of block the horn on the older animations. I mean — come on, a UNICORN?!?!  I will suspend my disbelief for the purpose of the game — but let us not get ridiculous!

I named my first Ponyta/Rapidash the name “Mary Ellen“. I know that this name does not have much to do with horses, or fire, but I sometimes name Pokemon after people I have known.  I knew a strong, trustworthy woman who had an unbreakable spirit.  Go! Mary Ellen use Flame Wheel!!!

You could probably use names for other fiery redheads, such as “Lucy” (See my post on Vulpix linked here.)

You could name one “WildFire” after the 1970s song by  space cowboy singer Michael Martin Murphey.  Ladies, please enjoy.

I like to use the name “Fastback” for a male Ponyta.  Think of an orange or red Ford Mustang Fastback. These were handsome cars with power to spare. Although there were many incarnations of the Mustang fastback, I like the 1971 Mach 1 model shown here the best. I like to catch the Ponyta in a “Repeat Ball” because the coloration matches, and the Pokemon comes out in a firey explosion.

You could name it “Twilight” or “Sparkle” if you are a My Little Pony fan. The name “Shadowfax” resonates like “Rapidash”, and is a “Lord-of-the-Rings” reference.

A more obvious name is “Equus” after the genus name for horses — as well as for the dark, depressing stage play of the same name, (that starred Harry Potter).  Perhaps “Equinox”or some variation like “Equinocks” could be workable.

Another possibility is just “No Name” … as in “I’ve been to the desert on a horse with no name”.

If I caught a blue-fire shiny version, I might name it “NightMare”.  Oh, how I would love to have a blue-flame shiny Ponyta … I would not care if it is a hack or not.  Pokehackers: Please make me one!

What are some other horse related? “Pegasus“, like the constellation.  “Apocalypse 1″ may be a dark name, as in the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”. Then put together a numbered team of the apocalypse.  “Firestorm” may be good for a Rapidash perhaps.

You may be playful and name one “Godiva” as in Lady Godiva.

“Cimarron” is a good horse name, and is a John Ford film reference. One can just feel the amber hues of sunset on the ripened Great Plains, and the wildfire which sweeps across it. If you want something goofy, try “Wilbur” which is a “Mr. Ed” reference!

I have also used the name “Denver” because of the Denver Broncos logo. Also it is a “western” name. Denver made me name another female Ponyta “Annie’s Song” after the famous John Denver hit.

I have named a female Ponyta/Rapidash “Ponytail” after the hairstyle, and the AKB48 song “Ponytail to Shushu”. (See how I worked in an AKB reference?).  The song is not about a horse. The song is a “boy’s perspective” song. A schoolkid man sits behind a pretty young woman in class. She always wears her hair tied up in a ponytail, which of course fires his imagination.  A  young lady’s hair tied up in a ponytail is one of life’s great nostalgic moments. Oh, the way young women tie up their hair this way. There is that wonderful magic where hair meets the base of the girl’s neck. Ladies do you not realize how beautiful you are making yourselves when you do this?   wonders upon wonders! … um … but I digress.  Yes, GO PONYTAIL!

“Your ponytail (don’t untie it)
keep it like usual
You are you (I am me)
and we’re just running
Your ponytail (don’t untie it)
forever and ever
I want you to be free
like a girl is supposed to be “

How about “PONYCANYON” … after the Japanese record label?

Another possibility is “StereoPony” after the popular Japanese rock band.

There are not a lot of Fire-types in the Sinnoh Region … make sure you have yourself a Ponyta/Rapidash when you are there!!!

What is the name for your fire horse?  Please Comment!

Pokémon Nicknames: Croagunk and Toxicroak

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I won this stuffed Croagunk at a county fair a couple of weeks ago.  I only had to spend $5 on baseballs to bring home this little guy!  I feel compelled to write a Nicknames post for it, but I will always take your suggestions.

Croagunk (Japanese:  グレッグル Gureggru) is a dual type POISON-FIGHTING Pokémon.  It evolves into Toxicroak (Japanese: ドクロッグ “Dokurog”) at level 37.

Ha Ha … The “running joke” … Croagunk would always jab Brock in the @ss when he would get out of line with the girls.

I do not usually catch many Croagunk.  Nothing against him, he just looks like a sad sack. I named a Croagunk “Gustovich” after a guy I knew.  He looked like Croagunk.  So did his big brother, and his little sister, … and his other sister.  The whole family looked like Croagunk.*  Nothing against them, they were cool, but they looked like Croagunk — especially the girls —  they just always had that expression.

I have also used the name “PCBs” after the toxic waste chemical.  Arguably, that name fits slightly better for the evolved form.  I named another one “MyJunk” because it is funny to have the trainer throw out the pokeball and say “Go .. My Junk!”.  I might also suggest “Gummout” after the carburetor cleaner in a spray can.  “PunchDrunk” might work, as it is a fighting type.

This toxic toad is no longer hiding behind the toilet.

I think that a good name for Toxicroak would be “Wet Sprocket” after the name of a fictitious pop-music band referred to in a Monty Python sketch.  The name the Pythons referred was “Toad-The-Wet-Sprocket”. In fact a real alt-rock group adopted the name, and had some minor hits. Here they cover the famous KISS song ‘Rock and Roll all Nite”. That is one cool sounding Toad!

Toxicroak: You show us everything you got …

*Trivia Note: One of the Gustovich brothers went on to be an artist for Marvel Comics.  If you have a collection that goes back to the late 1970s, you may have seen his drawings of Iron Man and the like. That is if you like comic books and all that nerdy stuff : )