These are the names people get wrong most, ranked. Press play on each. Capital letters mark the loud syllable: PEE-kuh-choo means the PEE gets the push.
How we ranked them: a name scores points for being corrected by The Pokémon Company at its own events (the 2023 and 2025 World Championships and the 2026 Europe and Latin America International Championships), for having a common mistake on record, and for being in our commonly-misread table. Ties go to the longer name.
Illumise#314ee-loo-MEE-zay Often said “IL-oo-meez”; officially ee-loo-MEE-zay. Official Official: "EE-loom-MEE-zay" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 and 2025 mispronounced-names segments). Not "IL-oo-meez".
Farigiraf#981fuh-RIG-uh-raf Often said “FAIR-ih-jih-raf”; officially fuh-RIG-uh-raf. Official A palindrome: it reads the same backwards. Official: "FUH-RIG-UH-RAFF", with a hard G (Pokémon World Championships 2025 mispronounced-names segment).
Nidoking#34NEE-doh-king Often said “NY-doh-king”; officially NEE-doh-king. Official Official: "NEE-do-king" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment). Not "NY-doh-king".
Tropius#357TROP-ee-us Often said “TROH-pee-us”; officially TROP-ee-us. Official Official: "TROP-ee-us" (2026 Europe International Championships mispronounced-names challenge). "Trop" as in "tropical".
Rayquaza#384ray-KWAY-zuh Often said “ray-KWAH-zuh”; officially ray-KWAY-zuh. Official Official: "RAY-KWAY-ZUH" (Pokémon World Championships 2025 mispronounced-names segment); the English anime also says ray-KWAY-zuh.
Uxie#480YOOK-zee Often said “UK-see”; officially YOOK-zee. Official Official: "YOOK-zee" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment).
Regieleki#894REJ-ee-eh-lek-ee Often said “REDG-ee-leck-ee”; officially REJ-ee-eh-lek-ee. Official Official 2025 mispronounced-names list (The Pokémon Company, via Nintendo Everything; Serebii agrees): "REDGE-ee-eh-leck-ee", not "REDG-ee-leck-ee".
Naganadel#804naw-guh-NAW-dul Often said “NAH-guh-NAY-duhl”; officially naw-guh-NAW-dul. Official Official 2025 mispronounced-names list (The Pokémon Company, via Nintendo Everything; Serebii agrees): "NAW-guh-NAW-duhl", not "NAH-guh-NAY-duhl".
Drapion#452DRAP-ee-on Often said “DRAY-pee-on”; officially DRAP-ee-on. Official Official: "DRAP-EE-ON" (Pokémon World Championships 2025 mispronounced-names segment), not "DRAY-pee-on".
Silvally#773sil-VAL-eye Often said “sill-VAL-lee”; officially sil-VAL-eye. Official Official 2025 mispronounced-names list (The Pokémon Company, via Nintendo Everything; Serebii agrees): "sill-VAL-lie", not "sill-VAL-lee".
Numel#322NUM-ul Often said “NOO-mel”; officially NUM-ul. Official Official: "NUM-mull" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment). Not "NOO-mel".
Munna#517MOON-uh Often said “MUN-uh”; officially MOON-uh. Official Official: "MOON-nuh", like "moon" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment), not "MUN-uh".
Archen#566AR-ken Often said “ar-CHEN”; officially AR-ken. Official Official 2025 mispronounced-names list (The Pokémon Company, via Nintendo Everything; Serebii agrees): "AR-ken", not "ar-CHEN".
Arcanine#59AR-kuh-nine Often said “ar-KAY-nine”; English official media say AR-kuh-nine. Official Often misread as "ar-KAY-nine".
Cubone#104KYOO-bohn Often said “koo-BOH-nee”; English official media say KYOO-bohn. Official "Cue" + "bone", not "koo-BOH-nee".
Lucario#448loo-KAR-ee-oh Often said “loo-KAIR-ee-oh”; English official media say loo-KAR-ee-oh. Official Often misread as "loo-KAIR-ee-oh"; the anime says loo-KAR-ee-oh.
Oranguru#765or-RANG-goo-roo Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially or-RANG-goo-roo. Official "Orangutan" + "guru". Official: "or-RANG-goo-roo" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 and 2026 Latin America International Championships).
Charizard#6CHAR-ih-zard Often said “CHAIR-ih-zard”; English official media say CHAR-ih-zard. Official Often misread as "CHAIR-ih-zard"; the anime says CHAR like charcoal.
Rattata#19ruh-TAT-uh Often said “RAT-uh-tuh”; English official media say ruh-TAT-uh. Official Stress on the middle syllable, not "RAT-a-ta".
Gyarados#130GYAIR-uh-dohs Often said “jy-AR-uh-dohs”; English official media say GYAIR-uh-dohs. Official The anime says GYAIR-uh-dohs; a softer "GAIR-uh-dohs" (no Y sound) is also heard. Not "jy-ARE-uh-dose".
Arceus#493AR-kee-us Often said “AR-see-us”; English official media say AR-kee-us. Official The English anime and official trailers say AR-kee-us (the dub chose a hard C on purpose); "AR-see-us" is a very common fan reading.
Sigilyph#561SIJ-ih-lif Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially SIJ-ih-lif. Official Official: "SIH-jih-liff" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment).
Dragalge#691druh-GAL-jee Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially druh-GAL-jee. Official "Dragon" + "algae". Official: "druh-GAL-jee" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 and 2026 Europe International Championships).
Xerneas#716ZUR-nee-ahs Often said with an “eks” sound at the start; English official media say ZUR-nee-ahs. Official The X sounds like Z.
Yveltal#717ee-VEL-tal Often said “why-VEL-tal”; English official media say ee-VEL-tal. Official Starts with an "ee" sound, not "why".
Dewpider#751DOO-pih-der Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially DOO-pih-der. Official "Dew" + "spider". Official: "DOO-pih-der" (2026 Latin America International Championships mispronounced-names challenge).
Xurkitree#796ZUR-kih-tree Often said with an “eks” sound at the start; English official media say ZUR-kih-tree. Our best guess The X sounds like Z.
Psyduck#54SY-duk Often said “puh-SY-duk”; English official media say SY-duk. Official The P is silent.
Xatu#178ZAH-too Often said with an “eks” sound at the start; English official media say ZAH-too. Official The X sounds like Z.
Suicune#245SWEE-koon Often said “SOO-ih-kyoon”; English official media say SWEE-koon. Official Often misread as "SOO-ih-kyoon"; the anime says SWEE-koon.
Slaking#289SLAK-ing Often said “SLAY-king”; English official media say SLAK-ing. Official Said like "slacking". "SLAY-king" is a common reading of the spelling.
Groudon#383GROW-don Often said “GROO-don”; English official media say GROW-don. Official GROW as in "growl" (from "ground"), not as in "grow up".
Mew#151MYOO Often said “MOO” or “MEE-oo”; English official media say MYOO. Official Rhymes with "new", like a cat's mew.
Alomomola#594uh-loh-muh-MOH-luh Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially uh-loh-muh-MOH-luh. Official Official 2025 mispronounced-names list (The Pokémon Company, via Nintendo Everything; Serebii agrees).
Reuniclus#579ree-yoo-NEE-klus Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially ree-yoo-NEE-klus. Official Official: "ree-yoo-NEE-klus" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment).
Solgaleo#791sohl-guh-LAY-oh Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially sohl-guh-LAY-oh. Official Official: "SOUL-gah-LAY-oh" (2026 Latin America International Championships mispronounced-names challenge).
Zeraora#807zeh-rah-OH-rah Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially zeh-rah-OH-rah. Official Official 2025 mispronounced-names list (The Pokémon Company, via Nintendo Everything; Serebii agrees).
Runerigus#867roon-uh-REE-gus Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially roon-uh-REE-gus. Official Official: "ROON-uh-REE-guhs" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment).
Arboliva#930ar-boh-LEE-vuh Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially ar-boh-LEE-vuh. Official Official: "ar-bowl-EE-vuh" (2026 Latin America International Championships mispronounced-names challenge).
Garganacl#934gar-guh-NAK-ul Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially gar-guh-NAK-ul. Official Official: "GAHR-ga-NAK-al" (2026 Latin America International Championships mispronounced-names challenge).
Chimecho#358chime-EK-oh Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially chime-EK-oh. Official "Chime" + "echo". Official: "chime-ECK-ko" (Pokémon World Championships 2023).
Minccino#572min-CHEE-noh Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially min-CHEE-noh. Official The double C sounds like "ch", as in Italian. Official: "min-CHEE-noh" (2026 Europe International Championships).
Emolga#587ee-MAHL-guh Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially ee-MAHL-guh. Official Official: "ee-MAHL-guh" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment).
Ferrothorn#598fer-AH-thorn Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially fer-AH-thorn. Official Official: "fer-AH-thorn" (2026 Europe International Championships mispronounced-names challenge).
Quilladin#651KWIL-uh-din Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially KWIL-uh-din. Official Official: "QUILL-uh-din" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment).
Vivillon#666VIV-ee-yon Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially VIV-ee-yon. Official Official: "Vi-vi-yon" (Pokémon GO website) and "VIH-vee-yon" (2026 Latin America International Championships). The double L is a "y" sound, as in French.
Aegislash#681EE-jih-slash Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially EE-jih-slash. Official "Aegis" (EE-jis) + "slash". Official: "EE-jih-SLASH" (Pokémon World Championships 2023), which stresses both ends.
Necrozma#800neh-KROHZ-muh Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially neh-KROHZ-muh. Official Official: "neh-KROHZ-muh" (Pokémon World Championships 2023 mispronounced-names segment).
Stonjourner#874STOHN-jur-ner Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially STOHN-jur-ner. Official "Stone" + "journey". Official: stress on "STONE" (2026 Latin America International Championships mispronounced-names challenge).
Zacian#888ZAH-shee-un Corrected by The Pokémon Company; officially ZAH-shee-un. Official Official: "ZAH-shee-an" (2026 Latin America International Championships mispronounced-names challenge). "ZAY-shee-un" is also heard.