But a lot of Japanese Pokemon have different names than the English counterparts.
-shrugs- I’ve never heard anyone make a deal about Umbreon’s name before
It’s not the same as “the word that must not be named”, but I just can’t imagine naming anything “blacky” without worrying about saying his name in public (in the U.S.).
Obviously Umbreon’s Japanese name is a cultural/language difference in translation, and is not inherently racist. It just sounds crazy (to me, at least) in English. Kind of like in Spanish. It’s culturally/linguistically acceptable to say “el negrito” about someone. It’s not racist in Spanish, but sounds crazy in English/would be considered racist to hear a direct translation of “the little black one” in relation to pointing out a person (as opposed to "the black guy, which is more the meaning and less of a direct translation).
I think Umbreon’s name might have just been a funny (to me) fail in translation. Maybe “dark one” “midnight” or “shadow” would be less of a direct translation, but more socially appropriate given how a lot of English speakers relate to people and a color/skin tone.