Pichu sits at rank #3320 with 25 recorded pets — a name that carries the full weight of Pokémon nostalgia and the specific affection players have for the baby-stage Pokémon who predates even Pikachu. If Pikachu is the mascot, Pichu is the secret favorite.
Before the thunder: Pichu's origin
Pichu was introduced in Generation II of the Pokémon games (Gold and Silver, 1999 in the West) as the pre-evolution of Pikachu. In the Pokémon world, Pichu is a baby Pokémon — small, excitable, and unable to fully control its own electric power, occasionally shocking itself mid-battle. That last detail is endearing in a way that the more competent Pikachu isn't: Pichu is trying, running at full speed, and occasionally falling over its own feet. The name itself is likely derived from the Japanese pika (the sound of electricity sparking) with the -chu suffix common to mouse-type Pokémon. As a pet name, it suits exactly the kind of dog or cat it sounds like: small, quick, slightly chaotic, full of energy they can't quite manage.
The Pokémon naming tradition in pets
Pokémon names have been circulating in pet-naming culture since the late 1990s, and that first generation of players is now firmly in adult pet-owner territory. Eevee, Pikachu, and Mewtwo appear across our database, but Pichu represents a more specific layer of affection — this is a name chosen by someone who knows their Pokémon deeply enough to go one evolution back from the obvious choice. Chihuahuas and other small, alert-eared breeds are a natural physical match.
Who names their pet Pichu
Pichu owners are, without exception, Pokémon fans — but they're the type who would choose Pichu over Pikachu precisely because it's the more obscure reference. They have opinions about starter Pokémon and they're not afraid to share them. At 25 recorded pets, Pichu is rare enough that meeting another Pichu at the dog park would be a genuine conversation starter. The name suits any small, highly excitable animal who seems to have more energy than body mass can logically contain.