What’s in a name? When it comes to fish, plenty! Whether you want to show off your new friend’s personality, good looks or sense of humor, a great name can make your pet stand out in a sea of competition. From fierce to funny, cute to colorful, these fish names are sure to make a splash.
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Top Fish Names
1. Blue
2. Fishy
3. Goldie
4. Bubbles
5. Nemo
6. Oscar
7. Sushi
8. Bob
9. Fred
10. Red
Goldfish Names
Amber
The pretty yellow-orange color is also used as a girl’s name.
Aurelia
Of Latin origin, this lovely girl’s name means “the golden one.
Bea Goldfishberg
On Disney’s “Fish Hooks” cartoon, Bea Goldfishberg was the dramatic, brilliantly named goldfish.
Cantaloupe
A refreshing choice, just like this orange melon.
Cayenne
For the goldie with a spicy personality.
Cheddar
There’s nothing cheesy about this choice.
Cheeto
The bright-orange snack is always a crowd pleaser.
Clementine
The cute citrus is also a charming girl’s name.
Cleo
In “Pinocchio,” Cleo is Geppetto’s affectionate pet goldfish.
Creamsicle
The orange treat can’t be beat. For another ice cream parlor favorite, try Sherbet!
Dorito
The perfect name for Cheeto’s friend.
Dorothy
In “Elmo’s World,” Dorothy is Elmo’s inquisitive pet goldfish.
Eldora
A Spanish name meaning “covered in gold.”
Gail
As fans of “The West Wing” know, Gail is C.J. Cregg’s goldfish.
Ginger
A time-honored choice for orange-hued pets (and people!)
Goldie
If your fish is fancy, consider going with the more formal name, Marigold.
Honey
Perfect for honey-hued sweeties.
Mango
The fruit’s vivid color makes it a natural namesake.
Marmalade
The citrus preserve has a bright orange hue.
Orla
An Irish girl’s name meaning “golden princess.”
Orville
This French name means “gold town.”
Otto
In the classic children’s book “A Fish Out of Water,” Otto is an oversize goldfish.
Ron Weasley
The “Harry Potter” character famously has bright orange hair.
Pumpkin
A positively “gourdeous” goldfish name.
Rusty
This nickname alludes to an orange hue.
Saffron
The spice is known for its signature vibrant orange shade.
Samson
A Hebrew name meaning “like the sun.”
Soleil
Oui, oiu! This pretty French name means “sun.”
Sunset
A naturally beautiful name for a naturally beautiful pet.
Sweet Potato
Orange you glad we remembered this silly spud name?
Tangerine
An orange name with “a peel.” (See what we did there?)
Ted Lasso
Meaning “forgive and forget,” “be a goldfish” is the motto of Ted Lasso on the popular TV show.
Betta Fish Names
Adira
A Hebrew name meaning strong and powerful—might be fitting for your fiery friend.
Agnar
An intimidating Old Norse name meaning “ruler with a sword.”
Apsara
Betta fish are native to Southeast Asia, and are the national aquatic animal of Thailand. For a Thai name, consider Apsara, meaning “angelic.”
Audrey
An English name meaning “strength,” Audrey also comes with a beautiful, betta-worthy pedigree thanks to actress and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn.
Baldo
As silly as it sounds, Baldo is an Italian name meaning “brave.”
Betta Midler
In honor of the actress, of course.
Betty
Betty Betta? Now that’s just plain adorable.
Blair
A unisex Scottish name meaning “battlefield.”
Bridget
This Irish name means “power and strength.”
Brienne
On “Game of Thrones,” Brienne was a formidable female knight.
Chinda
A Thai girl’s name meaning “precious stone.”
Chirawan
Another fitting Thai choice, Chirawan means “eternal beauty.”
Everett
This Old English name means “brave, strong boar” – but we think it works just as well for a brave, strong fish.
Finley
Meaning “blonde warrior,” this Scottish option has “fin” right there in the name.
Griffin
A Latin name meaning “strong lord,” Griffin can also refer to a mythological half-eagle/half-lion creature that didn’t lose many fights.
Harvey
A Scottish name meaning “battle worthy.”
Humphrey
Meaning “peaceful warrior,” Humphrey has a mellow side.
Iridiana
A Greek girl’s name meaning “rainbow,” Iridiana is a colorful choice for vibrant betta fish.
Iris
In Greek mythology, Iris is the goddess of the rainbow.
Isolde
A German girl’s name meaning “ice battle.”
Joan
A nod to French warrior Joan of Arc.
Koa
This Hawaiian name means “brave one.”
Leonardo
An Italian name meaning “lion brave.” (For a female fish, try Leona!)
Leopold
This aristocratic German name means “brave people.”
Ludwig
Another strong German name meaning “famous warrior.”
Madison
Meaning “mighty in battle,” Madison shortens to the super-cute “Maddie.”
Matilda
Equal parts brawn and beauty, Matilda means “strength in battle.”
Preeda
A celebratory Thai name meaning “joyful.”
Rainbow
A natural namesake for a colorful, awe-inspiring pet.
Riley
While common for dogs, Riley (meaning “ brave and valiant”) is an unexpected fish name.
Sigmund
A Norse name with Viking history, Sigmund (or Siggy, for short) means “victorious protector.”
Valentina
A romantic Latin name meaning “strong.”
Funny Fish Names
Aquaman
The DC Comics character can breathe underwater and communicate with marine life.
Barnacle Boy
A name that will make everyone smile from gill to gill, courtesy of “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
Blackbeard
The bloodthirsty pirate is an ironic choice for your little matey.
Blinky
In “The Simpsons,” Blinky is a species of three-eyed fish native to the radiated waters of Springfield.
Bruce
As the leader of the Fish-Friendly Sharks support group in “Finding Nemo,” Bruce the great white shark (mostly) believes that “fish are friends, not food.”
Bubba
Uninspired for a bulldog, hilarious for a fish.
Captain Jack Sparrow
For the fish with style and swagger.
Fido
Who’s a good … fish? Get ready to giggle every time you call your fish Fido.
Fluffy
For the pet who is decidedly not fluffy.
Gillbert
When you add an extra “l” to Gilbert, it becomes a perfectly punny fish name.
Gilligan
A clever reference to both gills and “Gilligan’s Island.”
Gorgo
In the B-movie horror flick of the same name, Gorgo is a giant, dinosaur-like sea monster.
Kelpie
As shape-shifting, man-eating aquatic spirits, Kelpies tend to be more feared than the average pet fish.
Kraken
Another monstrously fun choice, the Kraken is a sea monster who surfaces in Nordic folklore.
Leviathan
You can call your little biblical sea monster “Levi,” for short.
Michael Phelps
The Olympian’s nickname is the “Flying Fish,” after all.
Nessie
And of course, who could forget Nessie, the Loch Ness’ resident monster.
Popeye
Considering the Sailor Man’s love of spinach, Popeye is an especially fun choice for green pets.
Jaws
To paraphrase a line from the iconic 1975 thriller, “You’re gonna need a bigger aquarium.”
Mrs. Puff
Also known as Poppy Puff, the “SpongeBob SquarePants” character is a fan favorite.
Sashimi
We’re kidding, fish friends—we know you’d never seriously think of your pet as a delicious Japanese dish.
Sharknado
After the so-bad-it’s-good TV movie series, it’s the perfect name for the fish who lives every week like it’s Shark Week.
Spike
This classic dog name feels fresh and funny for fish.
Spot
For a spotted fish, this popular dog name will earn a chuckle.
Sherman
Another sassy shark name, Sherman is the main character of the comic strip “Sherman’s Lagoon.”
SpongeBob
The titular character of the popular animated TV series “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
Sushi
Your fish isn’t food, of course! It’s only funny because it’s absurd. (We blame the cat for this suggestion.)
Wanda
In honor of the cult-classic comedy “A Fish Called Wanda.”
Cute Fish Names
Bubbles
A bubbly name for any pet.
Dory
No one (not even Dory) will forget a fish named after the “Finding Nemo” sweetie.
Finnegan
With “fin” built in, this jaunty Irish name has aquatic appeal.
Fishtina
An adorable ode to Christina.
Fishtopher
A fishy take on the name Christopher, this fish could be Fishtina’s equally adorable brother.
Flipper
Inspired by the dolphin in the 1960’s TV series, this name is so flippin’ cute!
Flounder
The lovable sidekick of “The Little Mermaid,” Flounder is fantastic for yellow fish.
Guppy
A sweet little name for a sweet little fish.
Minnow
A catch-all name for a variety of tiny fish, Minnow is an endearing name for any size swimmer.
Nemo
If you have a clownfish, good luck finding a cuter name than Nemo.
Nixie
A whimsical name borrowed from the mythological water fairies.
Otter
As the ocean's resident cuties, otters are always a good bet.
Pearl
Pucker
Because everyone loves a kissy fishy face.
Pudge
As “Lilo & Stitch” fans know, Pudge is a well-fed tropical fish with an appetite for peanut-butter sandwiches.
Sandy
A beachy name with timeless charm.
Sebastian
Although he was a crab in “The Little Mermaid,” we think Sebastian is an adorable name for any creature “under the sea.”
Shrimp
An appropriately aquatic name for a tiny fish.
Skipper
A sea-faring name with an even cuter nickname – Skippy!
Splash
A playful name that’s sure to make a splish-splash.
Squirt
A pint-sized name perfectly suited for tiny fish.
Sunny
A bright-eyed name for yellow or orange fish.
Swedish
For a sweet and silly name, consider Swedish Fish.
Waverly
The traditional English girl’s name is a cute wink to the waves.
Willy
Thanks to “Free Willy,” this name will always earn an “aww!”
Blue Fish Names
Aquarius
Searching for a star-studded name? The Water Bearer sign’s color is blue.
Azure
A French girl’s name meaning “sky blue.”
Baby
If your fish is baby blue, consider keeping it simple.
Bluebell
A pretty girl’s name in honor of the springtime blossom.
Bluey
As many parents known, Bluey is the endearingly goofy name of a cartoon Blue Heeler dog.
Celeste
A Latin name meaning “heavenly,” Celeste is associated with the shade sky blue.
Celine
A serene French name meaning “sky” or “heaven.”
Ciel
A unisex alternative to Celine, meaning “sky” or “heaven.”
Cyan
An English boy’s name, Cyan is also a shade of greenish-blue.
Delphinium
A fresh girl’s name, Delphinium is also a blue flower.
Hyacinth
While hyacinth blooms can be a variety of colors, blue is the most iconic.
Indie
Short for Indigo, of course.
Jay
A reference to blue jay birds, this name has sky-high potential.
Lake
Made popular by actress Lake Bell, this nature-inspired name calls to mind cool blue waters.
Lapis
A Persian girl’s name meaning “blue stone.”
Meena
This Hindi girl’s name has multiple meanings, including “blue” and “fish.”
Moon
Moons are rarely blue – but when they are, they’re special.
Mystique
The shape-shifting “X-Men” character is blue and beautiful, just like your finned friend.
Neptune
A colorful reference to the Roman sea god, as well as the blue planet.
Odeta
An Albanian name meaning “vast blue sea.”
Periwinkle
This fun-to-say shade of light blue offers “Peri” as an easy nickname.
Robin
The birds may be red, but robin eggs are a beautiful blue.
Royal
For deep blue fish, consider this regal name.
Sapphire
Sapphire gemstones can be a range of colors, but vivid blue stones are the most prized.
Smurf
After the blue cartoon characters, of course! For a girl fish, try Smurfette.
Sky
A nature-inspired name with an airy feel.
Stitch
Disney’s blue, koala-like critter is also known as “Experiment 626” – but that’s not quite as cute.
Sully
The blue-hued “Monsters, Inc.” character is famously fuzzy, but we think Sully works well for scaled sidekicks, too.
Girl Fish Names
Ariel
Perfect for your own “Little Mermaid.”
Brooke
An English name referencing a small stream.
Calypso
In Greek mythology, Calypso is a goddess of the sea.
Coralia
An enchanting Greek name meaning “sea coral.”
Coventina
A Celtic goddess of wells and springs.
Delphine
A girl’s name of French origin meaning “dolphin.”
Destiny
In “Finding Dory,” Destiny is a friendly whale shark.
Doris
A Greek name meaning “gift of the ocean.”
Electra
For flashy fish, consider Electra, after the Greek goddess of sea clouds.
Galene
The Greek goddess of calm seas.
Ikaroa
In Māori mythology, Ikaroa is a fish that gave birth to all the stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
Isla
A popular girl’s name, Isla is the Spanish word for “island.”
Jennifer
Although a seemingly odd choice for a fish, Jennifer means “white wave” in Cornish.
Kai
A Hawaiian name meaning “sea.”
Lana
This lovely Hawaiian name means “calm as still waters.”
Lynn
A Welsh name meaning “lake.”
Marina
Of Latin origin, meaning “from the sea.”
Miriam
A Hebrew name meaning “drop of the sea.”
Moana
The Disney darling is known for her special relationship with the ocean.
Mora
An Irish name meaning “star of the sea.”
Nerida
A whimsical Greek name meaning “sea nymph.”
Nerissa
This Shakespearean name means “of the sea” in Greek.
Ondine
A magnifique French name meaning “little wave” or “water fairy.”
Sabrina
A Latin name meaning “from the river,” Sabrina is also a water goddess in Welsh mythology.
Sirena
The Spanish word for “mermaid.”
Tallulah
A beautiful Native American name meaning “leaping water.”
Ursula
The Disney sea witch has a certain swagger.
Venus
According to Roman mythology, the goddess Venus was born from sea foam.
Viviane
In Arthurian legend, Viviane was a mysterious sorceress and water spirit known as the Lady of the Lake.
Boy Fish Names
Adrian
Latin in origin, Adrian means “sea” or “water.”
Atlantis
A fictional (or as some believe, simply lost) island that disappeared into the Atlantic Ocean.
Beckham
An English name meaning “homestead by the stream.”
Bodhi
In the cult-classic thriller “Point Break,” Bodhi is a charismatic surfer (and creative bank robber) played by Patrick Swayze.
Captain
We say “aye, aye!” to this nautical name.
Caspian
The world’s largest lake makes for a memorable name.
Clyde
An undeniably funny name for a fish, Clyde does have aquatic roots – the River Clyde flows through Glasgow, Scotland.
Douglas
A Scottish name meaning “dark water.”
Dover
This Celtic name means “the waters.”
Dylan
Welsh in origin, Dylan means “son of the sea.”
Fred
On "Sesame Street," Fred is the unassuming name of Oscar the Grouch's pet fish.
Hudson
The preppy boy’s name is a nice shout-out to New York’s Hudson River.
Hurley
An Irish name meaning “sea tide.”
Irving
This fitting Scottish name means “sea friend.”
Jacques
In honor of French explorer and marine conservationist Jacques Cousteau, a friend to fish the world over.
Lincoln
This presidential pick is an English name meaning “lake colony.”
Luca
In the Pixar movie of the same name, Luca is a sweet sea monster who is curious about life on the surface.
Marlin
A Welsh name meaning “sea fortress,” Marlin is also the name of Nemo’s father in “Finding Nemo.”
Maxwell
A Scottish name meaning “great stream.”
Moby Dick
Herman Melville’s antagonist is a giant whale, so consider Moby for extra-large fish.
Murdock
A Celtic name meaning “sea warrior.”
Namazu
According to Japanese mythology, Namazu is a naughty catfish who causes earthquakes.
Poseidon
A brother of Zeus, and trident-wielding god of the sea.
Tao
Chinese in origin, the name Tao can mean “great waves” or “long life.”
Triton
King Triton is Ariel’s father in “The Little Mermaid.”
Wade
Meaning “at the river crossing,” this traditional boy’s name also alludes to walking through water.
Zale
A powerful Greek name meaning “sea-strength.”
From our tanks to yours, have a finn-tastic time choosing the perfect pick!
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