These are the names of their species. Truthfully, I haven't thought to give them nicknames...but it is something that many trainers do.

[He's not the most creative with naming things.]

But yes, they were originally wild Pokemon! A big part of having Pokemon companions is the manner in which they become your companion. The majority of Pokemon owned by trainers are captured in the wild with a Poke Ball. [He holds up a red and white ball to help Connie visualize it.] But some are hatched from eggs, traded, or given. Klinklang was actually given to me as a child- and like myself, it was much smaller back then. It is my oldest companion and partner.