What Do You Call... Charizard in Japanese? (And Why It Sounds So Cool)

Have you ever been deep in thought—maybe staring at your ceiling at 2 AM—wondering: “What do they call Charizard in Japan?” No? Just me? Okay, well, humor me for a second. You know Charizard—the big, fire-breathing, winged lizard from Pokémon that made us all wish dragons were real (and that we had one as a pet)?

Well, it turns out his Japanese name is just as epic as the Pokémon itself. Ready for it? Drumroll, please… 🥁

Lizardon (リザードン)

Yep. Lizardon. Sounds kind of like a fusion between “lizard” and some mythical kaiju, right? But why is it different from “Charizard”? And does it actually mean something cool? Read on to find out…

Why Is It Called Lizardon? (A Deep Dive Into Naming Logic)

Okay, let’s break this down. The English name “Charizard” is pretty clever:

Char — as in charred (because, you know, fire).
Lizard — because, well, he’s a big lizard.

So you’d think the Japanese name would follow a similar fire-related theme, right? Nope! Instead, Japan went with something that sounds more like a giant monster name from a classic Godzilla movie.

Lizard — because duh.
-don (ドン) — a common suffix in kaiju and monster names in Japan (think Rhydon, Groudon, etc.), which makes the name sound more powerful.

It’s giving Big Boss Energy—like Charizard isn’t just a Pokémon but the final boss of a Pokémon vs. Godzilla crossover movie. 🎬🔥

Wait… Why Is It Different from English?

Good question! Why didn’t they just stick with “Charizard” in Japan? Here’s the thing: Pokémon names often get localized to better fit the language and culture of the audience.

English names tend to be punny, descriptive, and sometimes a bit whimsical (Bulbasaur, Jigglypuff, Squirtle—come on, these are adorable).
Japanese names often focus on phonetics and cool-sounding words that make the Pokémon sound tougher or more dramatic.

For example, Pikachu? That stays the same worldwide. But Blastoise in Japanese? Kamex (カメックス)—which comes from kame (turtle) and the X sound for toughness.

So, “Lizardon” just felt right in Japan. And honestly? I kind of love it.

Does This Mean Other Pokémon Have Completely Different Names?

Oh, absolutely. And some of them are wild compared to their English versions. Here are a few of my favorites:

Gyarados → Gyarados (ギャラドス) (Okay, this one stayed the same. But it’s still cool!)
Squirtle → Zenigame (ゼニガメ) (Zeni = money, game = turtle. Apparently, tiny turtles used to be linked to wealth?)
Bulbasaur → Fushigidane (フシギダネ) (Roughly translates to “Isn’t it mysterious?” Which is kind of adorable.)
Eevee → Eievui (イーブイ) (Just a phonetic spelling difference. Still cute!)
Snorlax → Kabigon (カビゴン) (Named after the sleepiest Game Freak developer, who was known for eating a lot. Yep, that’s a real fact.)

See? Pokémon names are an entire art form.

But Is Charizard Actually a Dragon?! (The Eternal Debate)

Alright, since we’re talking about Charizard (sorry—Lizardon), I have to bring up the debate:

He looks like a dragon. 🐉
He breathes fire like a dragon. 🔥
He is not a Dragon-type Pokémon. 😱

That’s right—Charizard is Fire/Flying. Meanwhile, Pokémon like Kingdra (which is literally a seahorse) are Dragon-type. Make it make sense, Nintendo.

Fans have been arguing about this since the ‘90s. Even Game Freak finally threw us a bone with Mega Charizard X, which is Dragon-type. But still… we all know Charizard should have been Dragon-type from the start.

I mean, he even has Lizardon in his name! If that doesn’t scream kaiju-dragon vibes, I don’t know what does.

So, What’s the Verdict?

Is “Lizardon” cooler than “Charizard”? Honestly, it depends on who you ask.

If you love wordplay, “Charizard” is the way to go.
If you prefer badass kaiju-style names, “Lizardon” is undefeated.

But no matter what you call him—Charizard, Lizardon, Fire Dragon Boy Supreme—one thing is for sure: he’s still one of the most iconic Pokémon of all time.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go replay Pokémon Red and pick Charmander again. 🔥