If you’ve been playing Pokémon Go for a while, chances are you’ve caught your fair share of Eevees. This adorable little fox-like Pokémon is famous for having multiple evolutions, and each one brings something unique to the table. But here’s the catch—evolving Eevee isn’t always straightforward. That’s where nicknames come into play.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get a specific Eevee evolution, you’re not alone. In fact, there’s a fun trick involving special nicknames that can guarantee you’ll get the evolution you want—at least once!
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about the best Eevee nicknames in Pokémon Go and how to use them to get every evolution.
Why Nicknames Matter for Eevee Evolutions in Pokémon Go
So why is naming Eevee such a big deal in Pokémon Go?
In the core Pokémon games, you usually evolve Eevee using stones like Water Stone or Fire Stone. But Pokémon Go does things a little differently. Here, Eevee evolves into different forms through unique methods—and occasionally, a cool nickname trick.
Using a specific nickname for your Eevee will allow you to control which form it evolves into—but this only works once per evolution type. After that, you’ll need to meet other requirements to evolve Eevee into your desired form.
All Eevee Evolution Nicknames in Pokémon Go
Here’s a breakdown of all the nicknames you can use to guarantee specific evolutions. These are handy if you want to complete your Pokédex or strengthen your team with the best Eeveelution for certain battle types.
Just remember: Use these nicknames wisely, because the trick works only one time per evolution.
- Vaporeon: Rename Eevee to “Rainer”
- Jolteon: Rename Eevee to “Sparky”
- Flareon: Rename Eevee to “Pyro”
- Espeon: Rename Eevee to “Sakura”
- Umbreon: Rename Eevee to “Tamao”
- Leafeon: Rename Eevee to “Linnea”
- Glaceon: Rename Eevee to “Rea”
- Sylveon: Rename Eevee to “Kira”
Once you give your Eevee one of these names and restart the game, you should see the silhouette of the evolution you’re aiming for on the “Evolve” button. That’s your sign it’s working!
What Happens After You Use the Nickname Trick?
After using the nickname method once, you can’t use it again for the same evolution. So, what now?
Well, each Eeveelution has its own method for evolution after the nickname trick. Some of them are pretty straightforward, while others take a bit of effort.
Let’s walk through them.
How to Evolve Eevee Into Each Evolution (Without Nicknames)
Once you’ve used the name trick, here’s how to get each evolution again:
- Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon: These three are luck-based after using the nickname. When you evolve Eevee regularly, it randomly turns into one of these three, with no way to choose. So cross your fingers!
- Espeon: Walk 10 km with Eevee as your buddy, then evolve it during the day
- Umbreon: Walk 10 km with Eevee as your buddy, then evolve it during the night
- Leafeon: Use a Mossy Lure Module. Stand near a PokéStop with one active, then evolve.
- Glaceon: Use a Glacial Lure Module. Just like with Leafeon, stand near a PokéStop with one running before evolving.
- Sylveon: Earn 70 hearts with Eevee as your buddy to make it “Best Buddy,” then evolve.
It might sound like a lot, but it’s all pretty doable with some patience.
Which Eeveelution is the Best in Pokémon Go?
That depends on your strategy. Are you into PvP battles? Raids? Or just filling up your Pokédex?
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Espeon: Best for psychic-type attacks and raids
- Umbreon: Great in PvP, especially in Great League
- Sylveon: Solid choice for fairy-type coverage
- Vaporeon: Decent bulk and water moves
- Jolteon & Flareon: Less useful now compared to other electric and fire types
- Leafeon & Glaceon: Strong for their type categories if you need grass or ice Pokémon
Personally, I’ve found Umbreon super useful in weekly PvP battles—thanks to its great defense. And Espeon has helped me knock out quite a few raid bosses with its high psychic attack.
What about you? Do you have a favorite Eeveelution?
Helpful Tips to Manage Multiple Eevee Evolutions
Here are a few quick tips to make your Eevee training a bit easier:
- Save your high IV Eevee—only evolve the best ones if you want strong attackers
- Use Pinap Berries to catch more Eevees and get bonus candies
- Try evolving during events—sometimes evolving certain forms gets boosted!
- Label your Eevees—use tags like “Umbreon Buddy” or “Leafeon Lure” to track evolution plans
Planning ahead means you won’t waste your hard-earned candies or valuable nicknames.
The History Behind the Nicknames
Curious where these nicknames come from?
The original three—Rainer, Sparky, and Pyro—were the names of the Eevee brothers from an episode in the Pokémon anime. These characters each owned one of the original evolutions.
Later on, as more Eeveelutions were introduced in the main series games, nicknames were added in Pokémon Go as subtle nods to those characters or related content. For example, Sakura and Tamao come from another anime episode featuring Espeon and Umbreon.
Pretty neat, right?
Final Thoughts
Eevee is one of the most versatile Pokémon in the game, and with the right strategies—especially using the nickname trick—you can collect all of its unique evolutions without playing the guessing game.
Just remember:
- The nickname method works once per type
- After that, you’ll need to use special evolution methods
- Plan ahead, especially during special events
So go ahead and give your Eevee a name, evolve, and enjoy your new favorite evolution. Whether you’re prepping for battle or simply filling out your Pokédex, there’s an Eeveelution that fits your needs.
Ready to evolve your Eevee?
Let us know your favorite in the comments—it’s always fun to see whose team you’re on: Team Umbreon or Team Espeon? Or maybe you’re all about Sylveon’s charm?
Happy catching, Trainers!
