[rjsimmon]

I think it was a combination of gorilla and lizard.

Gojira (ゴジラ) is a portmanteau of the Japanese words: gorira (ゴリラ, "gorilla"), and kujira (鯨（クジラ）, "whale")

Steve Ryfle. Japan's Favorite Mon-Star. ECW Press, 1998. Pg.22

[ArtDodger]

Thank you, my memory was faulty.
Dan dan wasuretteimasu, nihongo wa.