You’ve Caught the Perfect Pokemon, But the Name Is All Wrong
You just spent hours hunting down a shiny Eevee, finally added that legendary Pokemon to your team, or maybe you received a special Pokemon through a trade. There’s just one problem: its name is something utterly forgettable like “PKMN123” or, worse, an inappropriate nickname from its previous trainer. You want to make it truly yours, to give it a name that reflects its personality, your journey, or just sounds cool in battle.
This simple desire to rename your Pokemon is a universal experience for trainers, yet the method to do it changes with almost every game and app. It’s not always as straightforward as opening a menu and typing. You might be looking in the right place but missing a key item, or the game might have restrictions you didn’t know about.
Whether you’re playing the classic Game Boy titles on Nintendo Switch, the latest open-world adventures, or managing your collection in Pokemon GO or HOME, this guide will walk you through the exact steps. We’ll cover the prerequisites, pinpoint the NPC you need to find, and explain the rules that govern nicknames across the entire Pokemon universe.
The One Rule Every Trainer Must Know: The Original Trainer
Before you search through any menu, you must understand the single most important rule in Pokemon naming: the Original Trainer, or OT, rule. This rule is consistent across nearly every main series game and forms the backbone of trading etiquette.
A Pokemon can only be renamed by its Original Trainer. If you caught it, bred it, or received it as a gift from an in-game character, you are its OT. You can change its nickname as often as you like, provided you find the right person or menu in that game.
If you received the Pokemon through a trade with another player, you are not its OT. In most cases, you cannot change its nickname. This prevents players from receiving a specially named event Pokemon only to have its name changed by someone else. There is one historical exception, which we’ll cover later, but for the vast majority of traded Pokemon, the name is permanent.
This rule applies to Pokemon transferred between games via Pokemon HOME as well. If you move a Pokemon you caught in an older game into a newer one, you are still its OT and can rename it using the newer game’s methods, subject to that game’s specific location rules.
Finding the Name Rater: Your Key to Nicknames in Main Series Games
From the very first games, the primary method for renaming a Pokemon has been through a special non-player character (NPC) called the Name Rater. He’s usually an older, wise-looking man found in a Pokemon Center or a specific house in a major city.
His function is simple: he will rate your Pokemon’s nickname and, if you are its Original Trainer, offer to change it for you. You don’t need any special items or badges to use his services; you just need to find him. His location changes in every game, so knowing where to look is half the battle.
In recent games, the Name Rater has sometimes been joined or replaced by a Name Change service accessible directly from your menu or a Pokemon Center terminal, but the OT rule still applies. Let’s break down the exact process for the most popular game eras.
How to Rename Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet, Violet, Legends: Arceus, and Sword/Shield
The latest generation of games on the Nintendo Switch has streamlined the process significantly. You no longer need to hunt for a specific NPC in most cases.
In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, open your main menu and select “Pokemon.” Choose the Pokemon you wish to rename from your party or boxes. On its summary screen, you will see an option labeled “Check Summary.” Press the A button to select it. Once in the detailed summary, if you are the Pokemon’s Original Trainer, you will see a new option: “Change Nickname.” Select it, and you can enter a new name right then and there.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus works similarly. Go to your Satchel, select the Pokemon, and choose “Check Summary.” The “Change Name” option is available on its summary screen if you are the OT.
For Pokemon Sword and Shield, the service is found at the Pokemon Center. Instead of a person, look for the Rotomi terminal located near the left side of the center. Interact with it and choose “Name Change.” You can then select any Pokemon in your party or boxes that you are eligible to rename.
Renaming in the Nintendo Switch “Let’s Go” Games and Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl
Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! hearken back to the older style. You must find the Name Rater. He is located in the Pokemon Center in Cerulean City. Simply talk to him, and he will offer to rate and change the nickname of any Pokemon in your party for which you are the OT.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are faithful remakes of the original Diamond and Pearl games. In these titles, the Name Rater resides in a house in Eterna City. The house is located in the northwestern part of the city, directly to the left of the Pokemon Center. The process is the same: talk, select your Pokemon, and rename.
A Special Case: The Unique Gift Pokemon and Event Restrictions
Some Pokemon come with inherent naming restrictions. Famous examples include the gift Pikachu in Pokemon Yellow that refused to be renamed, or certain mythical Pokemon distributed via events.
In modern games, this is most often seen with “Fateful Encounter” Pokemon. These are typically legendary or mythical Pokemon received through a special event, like a serial code or a mystery gift. Even if you are technically the OT for receiving the gift, the game may lock its name to its species name, preventing any changes. This is to preserve the identity of these rare, often story-significant creatures.
If you try to rename a Pokemon and the option is grayed out or simply doesn’t appear, and you are sure you are the OT, it’s likely a Fateful Encounter or similarly restricted Pokemon. Its name is permanent.
The One Exception to the OT Rule: The Sinnoh Ribbon
There is a single, notable historical exception to the “only the OT can rename” rule. In the original Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum games (and their remakes), a Pokemon that earned the “Legend Ribbon” could be renamed by any trainer after being traded.
This ribbon was awarded for defeating the head of the Battle Tower. It was a niche feature, but it created a scenario where a traded Pokemon could, in fact, have its name changed by its new owner. This mechanic has not been repeated in any subsequent main series games, but it’s an important piece of trivia for veteran trainers.
How to Change a Pokemon Name in Pokemon GO
The process in Pokemon GO is entirely different and offers much more flexibility, with one major caveat. To rename a Pokemon in GO, follow these steps.
– Open your Pokemon collection and tap on the Pokemon you want to rename.
– Tap the pencil icon next to its current name, located near the top of the screen.
– A keyboard will appear. Delete the old name and type your new nickname.
– Tap “OK” to confirm. You can use spaces, numbers, and most special characters.
The major caveat in Pokemon GO is the lack of an Original Trainer lock. You can rename any Pokemon in your collection, including those received from trades. This means you can finally fix that poorly named Pokemon a friend sent you. However, you can only do it once per Pokemon. After you rename a traded Pokemon that first time, the pencil icon disappears, and the new name becomes permanent.
For Pokemon you caught yourself, you can rename them as many times as you like. This makes GO the most flexible platform for creative nicknaming.
Managing Names in Pokemon HOME
Pokemon HOME is the cloud service that connects all your games. Its renaming function is limited but crucial for organization. When a Pokemon is in HOME, you cannot change its nickname. The nickname is a property stored with the Pokemon itself.
To rename a Pokemon using HOME, you must move it into a game where you are eligible to rename it. For example, if you have a Pokemon you caught in Pokemon Sword sitting in HOME, and you want to rename it, you must move it back into Pokemon Sword (or Scarlet/Violet, if compatible and you have the Name Change service there). Use the in-game method to change the name, then move it back to HOME if desired. The new nickname will be preserved.
HOME is excellent for viewing which Pokemon have nicknames and which don’t, helping you keep your living dex organized.
Troubleshooting Common Renaming Problems
You’ve found the right menu or NPC, but the option is missing. Let’s diagnose the issue.
– Is the Pokemon from a trade? This is the most common reason. Check the Pokemon’s summary screen. The OT name will be listed. If it’s not your trainer name, you cannot rename it in a main series game.
– Is it a special event or “Fateful Encounter” Pokemon? Check its summary for a mention of a fateful encounter. Its name may be locked.
– Have you already renamed a traded Pokemon in Pokemon GO? The pencil icon will vanish after the first change.
– Are you in the right location? In older games, you must be in the specific city with the Name Rater. In Sword/Shield, you must be at the Rotomi terminal.
– Is the Pokemon in your party or boxes? Most renaming services can access both. In some very old games, the Pokemon might need to be in your active party.
Creative Nicknaming: Tips and What’s Allowed
The game filters out obviously offensive words, but the filter isn’t perfect. It’s best to avoid any attempt to bypass it. Names are typically limited to 12 characters in main series games and slightly more in GO. You can use uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and spaces.
Many trainers use naming conventions for battle teams, like naming all their weather-setting Pokemon after meteorological terms, or giving their competitive Pokemon concise, clear names that indicate their role, like “Tank” or “Sweeper.” Others prefer role-playing names that fit the Pokemon’s design. The choice is yours, as long as you follow the game’s rules.
Your Pokemon, Your Story
Giving a Pokemon a nickname is one of the most personal connections you can make in these games. It transforms a generic creature into a companion with its own identity on your journey. While the technical process varies from the Name Rater’s house to a menu option, the principle remains: if you are the trainer who first obtained it, you hold the power to name it.
Start by checking your current team in your most-played game. Find that one Pokemon whose name never felt right. Navigate to its summary screen and look for the option. If it’s there, take a moment to choose a name that fits. If you can’t rename it, you now know why, and that knowledge is power for future catches and trades. A well-named team is a team you’ll remember long after the credits roll.
