List of Pokémon Pairing Names
From Fanlore
The Pokémon fandom is infamous for its extensive idiosyncratic pairing names that are often confusing and intimidating to newbies.
Naming Conventions
Nearly every conceivable pairing has a name in the form "____Shipping" (though the "s" may or may not be capitalized). These names are generated by fans, usually on forums. Some pairings have a name that is more or less universally-accepted while other pairings have no general consensus on what should be the ship's "official" name. Though most ship names attempted to relate the characters involved, such as PalletShipping because both characters come from Pallet Town, many are seemingly random and inexplicable (though the Shipping Names Explained thread at Bulbagarden has attempted to shed light on some of the mysteries).
One benefit of the ship-naming tradition is that it applies equally to the parts of the fandom that use characters' Japanese names and those that use characters' English names. It is common to see pairings designated by names separated with an "x" (which sometimes but not necessarily designates the seme and uke), but fans often feel the need to include both the Japanese and English names of the characters; for example, a fic might be labelled Ash/Satoshi x Misty/Kasumi. This, as well as portmanteaus such as SatoKasu and ShiShi, could confuse fans not familiar with characters' Japanese names (especially if they are used to Western fandom designating pairings with a virgule).
Today, the go-to list of ship names is The (In)Complete List of Shippers, which takes submissions of new pairing names on a mostly first-come first-serve basis. As of November 2011, it has over 11,000 different pairing names. Below is a list of some of the most common pairings and their various names.
Animeverse Pairings
Person/Person Pairings
| "Shipping" Name | English Cross | Japanese Cross | Portmanteaus | Other Names | Gender Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdvanceShipping | Ash x May | Satoshi x Haruka | SatoHaru (サトハル) | AdvancedShipping, AaMayL, ADV | m/f het |
| AmourShipping | Ash x Serena | Satoshi x Serena | SatoSere | ChildhoodShipping, AASL | m/f het |
| ApprenticeShipping | Tracey x Professor Oak | Kenji x Dr. Ōkido | IdolShipping, HeroworShipping | m/m slash | |
| BoulderShipping | Ash x Brock | Satoshi x Takeshi | SatoTake (サトタケ) | CompanionShipping | m/m slash |
| BrocketShipping | Brock x James or Brock x Jessie |
Takeshi x Kojirō Takeshi x Musashi |
TakeKoji (タケコジ) TakeMusa (タケムサ) |
JimShipping, KoiShipping |
m/m slash m/f het |
| CafeMochaShipping | Ash x Cilan | Satoshi x Dent | m/m slash | ||
| CavalierShipping | Gary x Dawn | Shigeru x Hikari | ShigeHika (シゲヒカ) | GADawnL | m/f het |
| ColdCoffeeShipping | Barry x Paul | Jun x Shinji | JunShin (ジュンシン), ShinJun (シンジュン) |
m/m slash | |
| ComaShipping | Paul x Ash | Shinji x Satoshi | ShinSato (シンサト) | m/m slash | |
| ContestShipping | Drew x May | Shū x Haruka | ShuHaru (シュウハル) | DAML | m/f het |
| DaddyShipping | Ash x Sammy Oak | Satoshi x Yukinari | SatoYuki (サトユキ), YukiSato (ユキサト) |
m/m slash | |
| EgoShipping | Gary x Misty | Shigeru x Kasumi | DenialShipping | m/f het | |
| GymShipping | Brock x Misty | Takeshi x Kasumi | TakeKasu (タケカス) | m/f het | |
| IkariShipping | Paul x Dawn | Shinji x Hikari | ShinHika (シンヒカ), Pawn |
PADL | m/f het |
| ImageShipping | Misty x May | Kasumi x Haruka | HaruKasu (ハルカス) | f/f femslash | |
| KissShipping | Ash x Melody | Satoshi x Fleura | SatoFleu (サトフル) | m/f het | |
| KodakShipping | Trip x Ash | Shooty x Satoshi | m/m slash | ||
| LightrockShipping | Brock x Dawn | Takeshi x Hikari | TakeHika (タケヒカ) | m/f het | |
| MareShipping | Ash x Bianca | Satoshi x Kanon | m/f het | ||
| MemeShipping | Ethan x Serena | Ethan x Serena | EthaSere | m/f het | |
| MorpheusShipping | Ash x Angie | Satoshi x Aoi | SatoAo (サトアオ) | m/f het | |
| NegaiShipping | Ash x Iris | Satoshi x Iris | SatoAi (サトアイ), SatoIris |
AaIL, PalmtreeShipping | m/f het |
| OrangeShipping | Tracey x Misty | Kenji x Kasumi | KenKasu (ケンカス) | OrangeIslandShipping | m/f het |
| PalletShipping | Ash x Gary | Satoshi x Shigeru | ShigeSato (シゲサト), SatoShige (サトシゲ), ShiShi (シシ) |
ShiShiShipping | m/m slash |
| PearlShipping | Ash x Dawn | Satoshi x Hikari | SatoHika (サトヒカ), Sakari |
AADL, ShinouShipping | m/f het |
| PokéShipping | Ash x Misty | Satoshi x Kasumi | SatoKasu (サトカス), Sushi |
BikeShipping, GakiShipping, etc. AAML, AAMRN |
m/f het |
| SapphirePearlShipping | May x Dawn | Haruka x Hikari | HikaHaru (ヒカハル), HaruHika (ハルヒカ) |
f/f femslash | |
| ShoppingShipping | Brock x May | Takeshi x Haruka | TakeHaru (タケハル) | NeoThirdWheelShipping | m/f het |
| RocketShipping | James x Jessie | Kojirō x Musashi | KojiMusa (コジムサ) | Jessie x James, JAJL | m/f het |
| TwinleafShipping | Barry x Dawn | Jun x Hikari | JunHika (ジュンヒカ) | FutabaShipping | m/f het |
| WishfulShipping | Cilan x Iris | Dent x Iris | DenA (デンアイ) | m/f het |
Person/Pokémon Pairings
| "Shipping" Name | English Cross | Japanese Cross | Portmanteaus | Other Names | Gender Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AltoShipping | Ash x Latias (can also be Ash x Bianca) |
Satoshi x Latias | SatoLati (サトラティ) | m/f het | |
| BlueShipping | James x Meowth | Kojirō x Nyarth | m/m slash | ||
| PikaShipping | Ash x Pikachu | Satoshi x Pikachu | m/m slash | ||
| SatochuShipping | Ashachu x Pikachu | Satochu x Pikachu | AshachuShipping | m/m slash |
Threesomes and Moresomes
| "Shipping" Name | English Cross | Japanese Cross | Portmanteaus | Other Names | Gender Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SakataShipping | Ash x Misty x Brock | Satoshi x Kasumi x Taksehi | Sakata | m/f/m threesome (het and slash) |
Gameverse Pairings
Protagonists/Rivals
| "Shipping" Name | English Cross | Japanese Cross | Portmanteaus | Other Names | Gender Category | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BurningLeafShipping | Red x Leaf | Red x Leaf | LuckyShipping | f/m het | Kanto | |
| CheckmateShipping | Cheren x Hilda (White) | Cheren x Tōko | f/m het | Unova | ||
| ChessShipping | Hilbert (Black) x Hilda (White) | Tōya x Tōko | TouTou (トウトウ) | AgencyShipping | f/m het | Unova |
| ClingyShipping | Lucas (Diamond) x Barry (Pearl) | Kōki x Jun | m/m slash | Sinnoh | ||
| ConflictingShipping | Blue x Leaf | Green x Leaf | OldrivalShipping | f/m het | Kanto | |
| FerrisWheelShipping | N x Hilda (White) | N x Tōko | f/m het | Unova | ||
| FortuneShipping | Lucas x Dawn (Platinum) | Kōki x Hikari | KouHika (コウヒカ) | ShinouShipping, CommonerShipping | f/m het | Sinnoh |
| HeartSoulShipping | Ethan (Gold) x Lyra | Hibiki x Kotone | HibiKoto (ヒビコト) | NeoQuestShipping | f/m het | Johto |
| HoennShipping | Brendan (Ruby) x May (Sapphire) | Yūki x Haruka | YuuHaru (ユウハル) | FranticShipping | f/m het | Hoenn |
| PreciousMetalShipping | Ethan (Gold) x Silver | Hibiki x Silver | HunterShipping | m/m slash | Johto | |
| IsshuShipping | Hilbert (Black) x N | Tōya x N | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| KuroShipping | Hilbert (Black) x Cheren | Tōya x Cheren | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| LoverivalShipping | Brendan (Ruby) x Wally | Yūki x Mitsuru | RaltsShipping | m/m slash | Hoenn | |
| OriginalShipping | Red x Blue | Red x Green | MasaraShipping, NamelessShipping | m/m slash | Kanto | |
| NewBarkShipping | Ethan (Gold) x Kris (Crystal) | Hibiki x Kris | QuestShipping, MangaQuestShipping | f/m het | Johto | |
| NewRivalShipping | Wally x May (Sapphire) | Mitsuru x Haruka | RaltsShipping | f/m het | Hoenn | |
| RebelShipping | Hilbert (Black) x Bianca | Tōya x Bel | f/m het | Unova | ||
| RedemptionShipping | Kris (Crystal) x Silver | Kris x Silver | SpecialJewelShipping | f/m het | Johto | |
| SequelShipping | Rosa x Hugh | Mei x Hyuu | f/m het | Unova | ||
| ShiroShipping | Hilda (White) x Bianca | Tōko x Bel | f/f femslash | Unova | ||
| SoulSilverShipping | Lyra x Silver | Kotone x Silver | SpecialJewelShipping | f/m het | Johto | |
| TwinleafShipping | Barry (Pearl) x Dawn (Platinum) | Jun x Hikari | FutabaShipping | f/m het | Sinnoh | |
| NewReplacementShipping | Kris (Crystal) x Lyra (Pokémon character) | Kris x Kotone | f/f femslash; clonecest | Johto | ||
| ContestQueenShipping | May (Sapphire) x Lisia | Haruka x Lutia | f/f femslash | Hoenn | ||
| GreySkyShipping | Nate x Hugh | Kyouhei x Hyuu | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| DarkmistShipping | Hugh x Cheren | Cheren x Hyuu | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| DualRivalShipping | Cheren x Bianca | Cheren x Bel | f/m het | Unova | ||
| VisorShipping | Nate x Rosa | Kyouhei x Mei | f/m het | Unova | ||
| TranceiverShipping | Nate x Yancy | Kyouhei x Ruri | f/m het | Unova | ||
| LiveCasterShipping | Rosa x Curtis | Mei x Tetsu | f/m het | Unova | ||
| BoutiqueShipping | Serena x Shauna | Sana x Serena | f/f femslash | Kalos | ||
| Tierno x Trevor | Tierno x Trova | m/m slash | Kalos | |||
| KalosShipping | Serena x Calem | Serena x Calme | f/m het | Kalos | ||
| BrightTomorrowShipping | Shauna x Calem | Shauna x Calme | f/m het | Kalos | ||
| AbandonmentShipping | Serena x Emma | Serena x Matiere | f/f femslash | Kalos | ||
| MoonlilyShipping | Moon x Lillie | Moon x Lilie | OceanflowerShipping | f/f femslash | Alola | |
| CuteBonesShipping | Hau x Gladion | Hau x Glazio | SunAndCloudShipping | m/m slash | Alola | |
| MonochromeShipping | Hilbert (Black) x N x Hilda (White) | Tōya x N x Tōko | m/m/fot3 | Unova | ||
| EntourageShipping | Lucas (Diamond) x Dawn (Platinum) x Barry (Pearl) | Kōki x Hikari x Jun | m/m/f ot3 | Sinnoh | ||
| GodTierShipping | N x Red | N x Red | m/m slash | Crossover | ||
| LonaShipping | Moon x Gladion | Moon x Glazio | f/m het | Kalos | ||
| AllWrongShipping | N x Cheren | N x Cheren | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| SecondBestShipping | N x Nate | N x Kyouhei | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| OrphanedShipping | N x Emma | N x Matiere | f/m het | Crossover | ||
| VoidCubeShipping | Rosa x N | Mei x N | f/m het | Unova | ||
| TokiwaShipping | Lyra x Leaf | Kotone x Leaf | f/f femslash | Crossover |
Non-Player Characters
Gym leaders, Elite Four members, etc. not shipped with main protagonists or rivals.
| "Shipping" Name | English Cross | Japanese Cross | Portmanteaus | Other Names | Gender Category | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SacredShipping | Morty x Eusine | Matsuba x Minaki | MatsuMina, MinaMatsu | m/m slash | Johto | |
| OriginShipping | Steven Stone x Wallace | Daigo x Mikuri | DaiMiku (ダイミク), MikuDai (ミクダイ) | m/m slash | Hoenn | |
| GracefulShipping | Wallace x Winona | Mikuri x Nagi | MikuNagi, MizuTori | f/m het | Hoenn | |
| HardenShipping | Archie x Maxie | Aogiri x Matsubusa | m/m slash | Hoenn | ||
| IgnitionShipping | Flint x Volkner | Ouba x Denzi | ODen, DenO | m/m slash | Sinnoh | |
| GlistenShipping | Maylene x Candice | Sumomo x Suzuna | f/f femslash | Sinnoh | ||
| BetelgeuseShipping | Cyrus x Mars | Akagi x Mars | f/m het | Sinnoh | ||
| AirplaneShipping | Elesa x Skyla | Kamitsure x Huuro | f/f het | Unova | ||
| PerfectWorldShipping | Professor Sycamore x Lysandre | Dr. Platane x Fleur-de-lis | FuraPura (フラプラ) | m/m slash | Kalos | |
| LaserbladeShipping | Clemont x Korrina | Citron x Corni | f/m het | Kalos | ||
| BoilingWaterShipping | Malva x Siebold | Pachira x Zumi | f/m het | Kalos | ||
| ChangeTheWorldShipping | Lysandre x Cyrus | Fleur-de-lis x Akagi | m/m slash | Crossover | ||
| ClonegeuseShipping | Archer x Ariana | Apollo x Athena | f/m het | Johto | ||
| CoolCapeShipping | Ghetsis x Olympia | G-Cis x Gojika | f/m het | Crossover | ||
| CommanderShipping | Shelly x Tabitha | Izumi x Homura | f/m het | Hoenn | ||
| DreamyHairShipping | Fennel x Colress | Makomo x Achroma | f/m het | Unova | ||
| FlamingFelineShipping | Lysandre x Olympia | Fleur-de-lis x Gojika | f/m het | Kalos | ||
| FrozenFanboyShipping | Brycen x Zinzolin | Hachiku x Vio | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| GingaShipping | Saturn x Cyrus | Saturn x Akagi | m/m slash | Sinnoh | ||
| HippocraticShipping | Ghetsis x Lysandre | G-Cis x Fleur-de-lis | m/m slash | Crossover | ||
| LaunchShipping | Proton x Archer | Lance x Apollo | m/m slash | Crossover | ||
| MizuhikiShipping | Cynthia x Cyrus | Shirona x Akagi | f/m het | Unova | ||
| AbsoluteControlShipping | Giovanni x Cyrus | Sakaki x Akagi | m/m slash | Crossover | ||
| AlphaFemaleShipping | Courtney x Shelly | Kagari x Izumi | f/f femslash | Hoenn | ||
| AntiGravityShipping | Ghetsis x Colress | G-Cis x Achroma | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| BeautifulPerfectionShipping | Lysandre x Ghetsis | Fleur-de-lis x G-Cis | m/m slash | Crossover | ||
| BeautifulWorldShipping | Malva x Lysandre | Pachira x Fleur-de-lis | f/m het | Kalos | ||
| NaturalChromeShipping | N x Colress | N x Achroma | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| NibiruShipping | Cyrus x Olympia | Akagi x Gojika | f/m het | Crossover | ||
| PseudoScientificShipping | Colress x Caitlin | Achroma x Cattleya | f/m het | Unova | ||
| SinfulShipping | Jupiter x Mars | Jupiter x Mars | f/f femslash | Sinnoh | ||
| SkullShipping | Guzma x Plumeria | Guzma x Plumeria | f/m het | Alola | ||
| SupremacyShipping | Aliana x Bryony | Akebi x Bara | f/f femslash | Kalos | ||
| SyntheticRuinationShipping | Guzma x Lusamine | Guzma x Lusamine | f/m het | Alola | ||
| TbhShipping | Jupiter x Cyrus | Jupiter x Akagi | f/m het | Sinnoh | ||
| WisdomShipping | Petrel x Arian | Lambda x Athena | f/m het | Crossover | ||
| YakuzaShipping | Giovanni x Ariana | Sakaki x Athena | f/m het | Crossover | ||
| YinAndYangShipping | Professor Oak x Giovanni | Dr. Ookido x Sakaki | m/m slash | Kanto | ||
| RockSmashShipping | Roxanne x Brawly | Tsutsuji x Touki | f/m het | Hoenn | ||
| DevilShipping | Sidney x Phoebe | Kagetsu x Fuyō | f/m het | Hoenn | ||
| SeamountShipping | Matt x Tabitha | Ushio x Homura | m/m slash | Hoenn | ||
| InterpolShipping | Nanu x Looker | Kuchinashi x Handsome | m/m slash | Crossover | ||
| FireworkShipping | Lysandre x Giovanni | Fleur-de-lis x Sakaki | m/m slash | Crossover | ||
| NeverYoungShipping | Lysandre x Lusamine | Lysandre x Lusamine | m/f het | Crossover | ||
| BlackandBlueShipping | Lysandre x Guzma | Lysandre x Guzma | m/m slash | Crossover | ||
| SteelFedoraShipping | Steven Stone x Riley | Daigo x Gen | m/m slash | Crossover |
NPCs/Protagonists
NPCs (who aren't rivals) shipped with protagonists/rivals.
| "Shipping" Name | English Cross | Japanese Cross | Portmanteaus | Other Names | Gender Category | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChampionShipping | May (Sapphire) x Steven Stone | Haruka x Daigo | f/m het | Hoenn
| ||
| BlueOrbShipping | May (Sapphire) x Archie | Haruka x Aogiri | f/m het | Hoenn | ||
| CannonShipping | Proton x Lyra | Lance x Kotone | f/m het | Johto | ||
| RedOrbShipping | May (Sapphire) x Maxie | Haruka x Matsubusa | f/m het | Hoenn | ||
| DroughtShipping | Brendan (Ruby) x Maxie | Yūki x Matsubusa | m/m slash | Hoenn | ||
| EnvironmentShipping | May (Sapphire) x Archie x Maxie | Haruka x Aogiri x Matsubusa | m/m/f ot3 | Hoenn | ||
| EverlastnightNightShipping | Guzma x Moon | Guzma x Moon | f/m het | Alola | ||
| GoldenLaunchShipping | Proton x Ethan (Gold) | Lance x Hibiki | m/m slash | Johto | ||
| GretelShipping | Hilda (White) x Ghetsis | Tōko x G-Cis | f/m het | Unova | ||
| IridiumShipping | Serena x Professor Sycamore x Lysandre | Serena x Dr. Platane x Fleur-de-lis | m/m/f ot3 | Kalos | ||
| JezebelShipping | Lyra x Petrel | Kotone x Lambda | f/m het | Johto | ||
| KingsRockShipping | Serena x Lysandre | Serena x Fleur-de-lis | f/m het | Kalos | ||
| MoonringShipping | Colress x Rosa | Achroma x Mei | f/m het | Unova | ||
| NobelPrideShipping | Lysandre x Calem | Fleur-de-lis x Calme | m/m slash | Kalos | ||
| ReformShipping | Red x Giovanni | Red x Sakaki | m/m slash | Kanto | ||
| ThwartShipping | Giovanni x Leaf | Sakaki x Leaf | f/m het | Kanto | ||
| GirlPowerShipping | Cynthia x Dawn (Platinum) | Shirona x Hikari | f/f femslash | Sinnoh | ||
| SpectralColorShipping | Nate x Colress | Kyouhei x Achroma | m/m slash | Unova | ||
| KerrShipping | Calem x Professor Sycamore | Calme x Dr. Platane | m/m slash | Kalos | ||
| AkatsukiShipping | Dawn (Platinum) x Cyrus | Hikari x Akagi | f/m het | Sinnoh |
Mangaverse Pairings
Pokémon Adventures/Special Pairings
| "Shipping" Name | English Cross | Japanese Cross | Portmanteaus | Other Names | Gender Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GymShipping | Brock x Misty | Takeshi x Kasumi | TakeKasu (タケカス) | m/f het | |
| LuckyShipping | Red x Green | Red x Blue | ReBuru (レブル) | m/f het | |
| MangaPokéShipping | Red x Misty | Red x Kasumi | ReKasu (レカス) | ||
| OldrivalShipping | Blue x Green | Green x Blue | GuriBuru (グリブル) | m/f het | |
| OriginalShipping | Red x Blue | Red x Green | m/m slash | ||
| PreciousMetalShipping | Gold x Silver | ShiruGo(シルゴ), GoShiru (ゴシル) |
m/m slash | ||
| SpecialShipping | Red x Yellow | Red x Yellow | ReIe (レイエ) | m/f het |
Electric Tale of Pikachu Pairings
| "Shipping" Name | English Cross | Japanese Cross | Portmanteaus | Other Names | Gender Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MangaShipping | Brock x Sabrina | Takeshi x Natsume | TakeNatsu (タケナツ) | m/f het |
