Eevee and Its 8 Evolutions: Which Pokémon Fans Love Most?

Eevee has become one of the Pokémon world’s most beloved creatures, partly because this cute, fox-like character can evolve into eight different forms. Each evolution has a unique type and design, forming a family popularly known as Eeveelutions. But among these nine (Eevee plus its eight evolutions), which do fans adore the most? To answer that, we’ll explore data from fan polls and surveys and rank Eevee and its evolutions from the least to most popular.

9. Flareon – The Least Favorite Evolution

Flareon is a Fire-type evolution introduced in Gen I, and despite its fiery appearance it often ends up as the least popular Eeveelution in fan rankings. In a worldwide 2020 Pokémon vote, Flareon didn’t even make the top 20 Kanto Pokémon, whereas the other original Eevee evolutions did. This suggests that Flareon has generally been outshined by its peers. Some fans cite Flareon’s limited move pool in early games and less screen time as reasons it’s overlooked. Still, Flareon’s fluffy mane and strong Fire attacks have a small but loyal following – it just ranks last in overall fan preference.

8. Jolteon – A Shocking Classic

Jolteon, the Electric-type evolution, tends to fare slightly better than Flareon in popularity. In the same Pokémon Day poll, Jolteon received more votes than Flareon but still lagged behind most later evolutions. In fact, Vaporeon was voted 15th in the Kanto category while Jolteon came in 26th, highlighting its lower standing. Many fans do love Jolteon’s sleek, spiky design and remember it fondly as one of Eevee’s first evolutions. Its lightning-fast speed made it useful in battles, and nostalgic players still appreciate it. However, compared to some newer Eeveelutions, Jolteon remains near the bottom of the list in fan polls.

7. Vaporeon – Top of the Original Trio

Vaporeon, the Water-type evolution, generally ranks as the most popular of Eevee’s original three evolutions. It outperformed its Gen I siblings in the 2020 vote (finishing around 15th among Kanto Pokémon). Vaporeon’s mermaid-like design and solid in-game performance (high HP and unique water abilities) give it an edge over Jolteon and Flareon in fan appeal. That said, Vaporeon still falls in the lower half of the overall Eevee-family popularity. Notably, one recent TCG event measuring Eeveelution usage even saw Vaporeon come out as the least chosen evolution, showing that its support, while strong among the original trio, is weaker compared to newer evolutions. Overall, Vaporeon has its devoted fans but is only seventh in this ranking.

6. Leafeon – A Mid-Tier Favorite

Leafeon is a Grass-type evolution introduced in Generation IV, and it usually sits around the middle of the pack in popularity. In the Pokémon of the Year 2020 vote, Leafeon garnered over 20,000 votes – which was more than any of the Gen I Eeveelutions – indicating a respectable fan following. Fans enjoy Leafeon’s peaceful, nature-inspired design (it literally has leaves growing from its body) and its unique evolution method tied to Mossy Rocks in the games. However, Leafeon hasn’t achieved the same level of fame as the top contenders on this list. It often gets praised for cuteness but lacks the standout role or power that would push it higher. As a result, Leafeon lands at a comfortable sixth place, appreciated but not adored by a majority of fans.

5. Glaceon – Cool and Slightly More Popular

Glaceon, Leafeon’s chilly counterpart from Gen IV, enjoys slightly higher fan favor. In that same global poll, Glaceon ranked above Leafeon in the Sinnoh category, with roughly 26,000 votes to its name. Many fans are drawn to Glaceon’s cool, ice-blue design – it resembles a fox with crystalline ears and tail – and its Ice-type moves. Glaceon also benefited from appearances in games and anime (for example, one of the main characters in the Diamond/Pearl series had a Glaceon), which helped keep it in fans’ minds. While it doesn’t reach the superstar status of the top evolutions, Glaceon consistently places in the upper-middle of Eevee evolution rankings. It secures the fifth spot as a solidly liked evolution that slightly edges out Leafeon in popularity.

4. Espeon – Psychic Fan Favorite

Espeon, the elegant Psychic-type evolution from Gen II, stands out as one of the more popular Eeveelutions. In regional Pokémon Day polls, Umbreon and Espeon were often the top two Johto evolutions (with Umbreon in first place and Espeon trailing right behind it). In the 2020 global vote, Espeon earned around 30,000 votes – a clear indication of its strong fan support, even if it was about half of Umbreon’s total. Fans love Espeon’s sleek, cat-like design and its powerful psychic abilities; it evolves from Eevee through high friendship in daylight, which gave it a special lore connection to its Dark-type counterpart Umbreon. Espeon frequently ranks high in popularity contests (often just behind the big two or three). While it isn’t the number-one favorite, it comfortably claims the fourth spot on this list as a beloved evolution for a large segment of the fandom.

3. Eevee – The Adored Originator

It’s no surprise that Eevee itself ranks near the top of the list, despite not being an “evolution.” The adorable Normal-type base form has a huge fanbase thanks to its prominence in the series and its limitless evolutionary potential. In the 2020 worldwide Pokémon vote, Eevee garnered 47,762 votes, making it one of the top 20 most popular Pokémon of all and the third-highest among the Eevee family. In fact, Eevee was just a few hundred votes shy of Pikachu’s total in that poll – a testament to its popularity. The Pokémon Company has embraced Eevee’s appeal by featuring it alongside Pikachu in games and merchandise (even titling a main series game after it). Fans cherish Eevee for its cuteness, its versatility, and the sense of potential it represents. All of this firmly secures Eevee the number 3 spot on the list, as one of the most loved Pokémon in any form.

2. Sylveon – The Charming Newcomer

Sylveon, the Fairy-type evolution introduced in Gen VI (Pokémon X & Y), has quickly become one of the most popular Eevee evolutions. In the 2020 poll, Sylveon received over 66,000 votes, placing it just behind Umbreon among all Pokémon (Sylveon was 6th overall globally). This surge in popularity is easy to understand. Sylveon sports a charming design with pink and white coloration and ribbon-like feelers, appealing to fans who love “cute” Pokémon. It also brought the new Fairy type into the Eevee family, and proved to be quite powerful in battles, which attracted many trainers to use it. In various fan polls and discussions, Sylveon often comes out near the top. Its combination of visual appeal and battle utility has made it a huge fan-favorite in a short time. Sylveon comfortably takes the number 2 spot, narrowly missing the crown but clearly adored by a vast portion of the fanbase.

1. Umbreon – The Reigning Fan Favorite

Umbreon takes the number one spot as the fandom’s standout favorite Eevee evolution. This Dark-type evolution from Gen II consistently dominates popularity polls – for example, Umbreon amassed 67,062 votes in the Pokémon of the Year poll, the most of any Eeveelution. In that 2020 vote it was ranked as the 5th most popular Pokémon overall, out of all 800+ species, outperforming even many famous non-Eevee Pokémon. Fans are captivated by Umbreon’s sleek black design with glowing yellow rings and its cool, mysterious demeanor (it evolves by friendship at night, which gives it a unique moonlit mystique). Almost every fan survey of the Eevee evolutions crowns Umbreon as the winner – as one community member noted, every poll seems to have Umbreon at the top spot. With its striking look and enduring popularity, Umbreon is clearly the most popular evolution among Pokémon fans, reigning supreme at #1.

Conclusion: In summary, Umbreon emerges as the fans’ top choice, with Sylveon and Eevee following closely behind it. That said, every evolution has its own appeal, and even the lower-ranked ones have dedicated supporters. Popularity can shift with new games and generations, but for now Umbreon holds the crown as the fan-favorite Eevee evolution. Which one is your personal favorite?