Mothers play a vital role in the Pokémon world, helping young Pokémon Trainers get ready for their journey, healing their Pokémon, and offering moral support along the way. They’re among the first characters we meet in the video games, they appear frequently in the animation, and sometimes they even show up in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and manga.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, we’re highlighting six of our favorite PokéMoms from all over who have helped shape the Pokémon world as we know it.
No PokéMom list would be complete without Delia, the OG PokéMom. From the very first episode of the animated series, “Pokémon - I Choose You!,” Delia cheered Ash on and offered him advice. When we first meet Delia, Ash is soliloquizing about his destiny as a Pokémon Master when she interrupts, insisting that he go to bed. Ash ends up oversleeping the following morning and misses the chance to choose his first partner Pokémon, so her advice proves relevant.
Through Ash and Pikachu’s many adventures, challenges, battles, and journeys, Delia eagerly cheers him on, proudly offering moral support. And as Pokémon the Series draws to a close in “The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!,” Delia’s still there to welcome Ash home after his long journey. Of course, in true PokéMom fashion, Delia knows that Ash won’t stay for long, so she’s ready with a new pair of shoes for the next phase of his adventure. Thanks to Delia, Pallet Town will always be home for Ash no matter where his journey takes him.
Depending on where you first met Johanna, you may know her as the player character’s mom from Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl, or Pokémon Platinum or as Dawn’s mom in Pokémon the Series. She even appears in the Pokémon Adventures manga as Diamond’s mom. Johanna differentiates herself from many other parents of Pokémon Trainers by her competitive nature and success in Pokémon Contests. In the video games, she visits Hearthome City’s Contest Hall, competing in Master Rank Super Contests with her Kangaskhan, Jumpy. In fact, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself squaring off against Johanna in a Pokémon Contest, and it’s always inspiring to see a PokéMom who has her own passions, interests, and talent.
In “Following a Maiden’s Voyage!,” the first episode of Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, Dawn tells Johanna that it’s important she chooses the right first partner Pokémon because she wants to become a Top Coordinator just like her. As they talk, we catch a glimpse of an extensive wall of trophies and photos of Johanna and her Pokémon competing. But Johanna isn’t just a source of inspiration to her daughter; she also offers practical advice by insisting that Dawn ditch her enormous suitcase and instead travel with a small bag. Obviously, Dawn has some big shoes to fill, but that just seems to inspire her all the more.
Like Johanna, Grace has an extensive resume across the Pokémon world, first appearing as the player character’s mom in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, then in Pokémon the Series as Serena’s mom, and lastly in the Pokémon Adventures manga as Y’s mom. Of all the PokéMoms in this list, Grace arguably has the coolest profession—she’s a former competitive Rhyhorn racer. Unfortunately, her passion for Rhyhorn racing becomes a point of contention with her daughter in both the animation and manga.
In “Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!,” we meet Grace as she sends Fletchling to wake up Serena for Rhyhorn race training. Later, Serena realizes she doesn’t want to become a Rhyhorn racer like her mom; she wants to be a Pokémon performer. But Grace initially doesn’t have a lot of faith in her daughter’s ability to follow through on her dreams—until Serena defeats her in a Skiddo race. Similarly, Grace’s daughter Y in Pokémon Adventures refuses to follow in her steps as a Rhyhorn racer, causing conflict. It’s clear that Grace has a strong personality and wants what is best for her child.
Sadly, we don’t get to spend a lot of time with Mallow’s mom, who died when Mallow was younger. However, in the single episode where we meet her, the power of a mother’s love is undeniable. In the Pokémon the Series—Ultra Legends episode “Memories in the Mist!,” Mallow and her mother are briefly reunited thanks to Tapu Fini’s power to create a mist that lets people and Pokémon see their loved ones who have passed on. We get to see some of Mallow’s last days with her mother, including her mother’s decision to catch Bounsweet for her daughter, recognizing that Pokémon are incredible and loyal companions.
And in what has to be a top tearjerker moment from the Pokémon animation, Mallow acknowledges and thanks her departed mother for everything she did for her, including catching Bounsweet. “Thank you, Mom! So very much! For always being such a cheerful and kind mother,” Mallow says. “… And thank you for catching Bounsweet just for me so I wouldn’t ever have to be lonely. Know what else? Thank you for bringing me into this world!”
In a single episode, Mallow’s mom stole our hearts and secured her place in the PokéMom hall of fame.
It’s probably been a while since you’ve given much thought to the player character’s mom in Pokémon video games. It’s true that many of them don’t have names and might not seem pivotal to the plot. However, each PokéMom from the video games boasts unique personality traits and helps the player (their child) in different ways. These are some of the video game moms that distinguished themselves as particularly memorable over the years.
The player’s PokéMom in the Johto region makes her debut in Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver, and also appears in Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon HeartGold, and Pokémon SoulSilver. This mom is known for helping the player manage their money. The player can agree to let their mom save a portion of the cash they win in Pokémon battles, offering valuable life lessons about fiscal responsibility. Occasionally, this mom will use the savings to purchase useful items, including rare items like Moon Stones. Like many of the moms in the Pokémon world, she’s also committed to keeping her young Pokémon Trainer well-fed, with her culinary specialty being the Cinnabar Volcano Burger.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Gold’s mom resembles the mom from the Johto video games. This PokéMom ends up caring for so many Pokémon—including Lickitung, Sandshrew, Oddish, Krabby, Chansey, Weedle, Exeggcute, and Drowzee—that their home is known as the “Poké House.” She also gives Gold a hard time about his messy hair, but we’ll just fantasize about how amazing it would be to live at the Poké House.
We unfortunately don’t know the name of the mother from Pokémon Sun, Pokémon Moon, Pokémon Ultra Sun, and Pokémon Ultra Moon, but from everything we do know, she’s pretty darn cool. Back in the day before moving to Alola, she was a fierce Pokémon Trainer known as Scratch Cat Girl, and her Meowth’s intense loyalty to her is evidence of her quality as a Pokémon Trainer and as a person. The Alola video game mom is also known for her fun, laid-back vibe, encouraging her child to explore Alola and take part in everything it has to offer.
Despite her sunny disposition, the Alola mom has depth. We learn during the game that her husband had to remain behind in Kanto and the couple keep in touch by writing each other love letters. And this PokéMom isn’t content to just sit on the sidelines. She battles the Masked Royal and his Rockruff alongside her trusty Meowth and attends festivals devoted to Tapu Koko.
Looking for more PokéMom content to help celebrate Mother’s Day? Check out our article about PokéMoms of the Pokémon TCG. And tune in to the Twitch PokéMom celebration on May 6 and May 8, 2025, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. PDT at Twitch.tv/Pokemon.
