110+ Incredible Fish Name Ideas For Your Adorable Fin-Tastic Friend

Most people assume you’re talking about a dog or a cat when bringing up the word ‘pet’, but fish are just as cool! In the United States, fish are the third most popular animal to own. Over 10 million households own a freshwater fish. They are generally easy to care for, quiet, calm, and perfect for small spaces. Still, fish need the right environment, food, and water to live and thrive. Possibly one of the best, but also hardest things to do when first owning a fish, is finding a name that fits them perfectly. Fish name ideas are sometimes hard to generate. This is especially true considering there are so many different types of fish!

Even within the same group of fish, there are many differences. You can have a goldfish with a fancy tail or one with a fanned tail and large eyes. Betta fish are vibrant and colorful, also with different tail types and markings. To make this easier to read, we’ve broken down this list of over 110 fish name ideas by different themes.

Goldfish Names

Starting our list strong, we have a long and growing list of incredible goldfish names. With goldfish, you can get creative. There are over 200 types of goldfish. Choosing a name is important as these popular and common pet fish can live for over ten years in captivity. The oldest goldfish lived to be 43 years old.

You can name your adorable and bright friend after the color of their scales, their texture, markings, personality, size, and more. Listed below are some ideas to consider when thinking of a name.

• Goldy
• Sunshine
• Fin
• Tiger
• Sunburst
• Sunny
• Nibbles
• Feather
• Glimmer
• Pearl
• Fin
• Flame
• Marshmallow
• Garnet
• Cheddar
• Pepper
• Skipper
• Nemo
• Dory
• Angel

Koi Fish Names

Koi fish are elegant and a lot of fun to watch. Although a lot of households in the United States are fish owners, not many take care of koi fish. This is likely because these large and impressive Japanese fish need a lot of space and have specific challenges. They can become easily stressed if their water isn’t clean enough or they aren’t fed the right food. Koi fish, though, in the right care, are hardy animals. They can live for up to 35 years. Keep reading to uncover some incredible ideas about koi fish names.

• Flower
• Spots
• Rainbow
• Rain
• Elegant
• Stripes
• Patty
• Royal
• Bubbles
• Rana
• Dazzle
• Dragon
• Shine
• Jewel
• Emerald
• Ruby
• Diamond
• Vincent
• Flow
• River
• Carp
• Ember
• Radiant
• Paint
• Anastasia
• Princess

Betta Fish Name Ideas

If you go into any pet store, you’re likely to see goldfish and betta fish. Bettas are very popular fish. They are calm fish that love to hide and come in so many stunning colors. Betta fish are also known as Siamese fighting fish. These small fish are native to parts of Southeast Asia. Although a popular pet fish, betta are sadly listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since their wild and native populations are declining. So, what are some good names to consider calling your highly territorial and aggressive fish? 

• Warrior
• Fighter
• Fury
• Magic
• Fan
• Rocky
• Cuddles
• Blueboy
• Ninja
• Bluegirl
• Power
• Justice
• Butterfly
• Freedom
• Peace
• Max
• Daisy
• Red
• Cleo
• Kaida
• Celestial
• Ocean
• Crimson
• Sushi
• Hero

Wonderful Guppy Fish Names

Guppies are also sold in many common pet stores. But what are guppies? Guppies are small fish that go by many names. They are sometimes also called rainbow fish. This tropical fish is everywhere and is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Guppies are a favorite for many because they are so easy to take care of and are vibrant. These beautiful fish for around 2 to 5 years, although 2 to 3 years is more common. While these fish live in many countries, they are mainly native to the tropical warm waters of South America. These are some of the easier fish to name because of how cute and diverse they are. Listed below are some guppy fish name ideas to consider.

• Tiny
• Pebbles
• Mini
• Flight
• Birdy
• Fancy
• Betty
• Cora
• Sauce
• Cricket
• Rocky
• Doodle
• Cuddly-Bug
• Pets
• Goose
• Cosmo
• Cookie

Silly Human Fish Names

While we can keep listing other common fish found in pet stores, this list would be endless, so this section focuses on silly names, specifically funny human names. Sometimes, instead of naming your pet something like “Pookie”, it’s even funnier to name them a human name like “Troy” or “Sally”. 

• Colin
• Carlos
• Jose
• Lily
• Monica
• Carly
• Hazel
• Zoe
• Cooper
• Lady
• Asher
• Jack
• Henry
• Jeffery
• Jacobson
• Bailey
• Constance
• Luke
• Sebastian

Name Ideas For Shy Fish

Instead of naming your pet strictly after their looks, another great idea is to come up with names that fit their personality. Some fish are shyer than others, which can fit the personality of their owners. Is your pet shy? Are they constantly hiding away from the light within the fun accessories within their tank? If yes, why not try one of these names?

• Scaredy Cat
• Timid
• Shiver
• Timido 
• Shyboy
• Shygirl
• Blossom
• Blush
• Shake
• Little
• Tremble
• Small Fry
• Min
• Hide
• Escape
• Mellow
• Monk
• Dandelion
• Mouse
• Bella
• Gailen
• Fluffy
• Wonder
• Quiet
• Squeak
• Float
• Blow

Names for Hyper Fish

If you’ve gotten lucky and have a fish with a lot of personality, charm, and energy, the name choices are endless. While fish are one of the easier domestic pets to care for, they still need stimulation. Many tanks hold accessories large enough for fish to hide and swim through. Aquarium fish can get bored, which leads to stress. Stress can easily build up into other health problems, including bloat. Stimulating items, like colorful, soft, and floating plants and toys, can catch their attention. With training, you can even train your fish to do tricks!

For hyper and lively fish, here are some fun pet name suggestions. 

• Jet
• Harley
• Fidget
• Take Off
• Silly 
• Goose
• Runner
• Track Star
• Star
• Hype
• Bounce
• Chaos
• Spike
• Speedster
• Fiery
• Fanatic
• Touch
• Popeyes
• Speedzilla
• Roadrunner
• Queen Punky
• Rabbit

Fish Name Ideas From Media

Also on our list of incredible fish name ideas are fish names based on popular films, TV shows, and movies. Instead of trying to give your pet a name based on their looks or personality, try a name from your favorite pop culture reference. This can be something like Ariel or Flounder from Disney’s “Little Mermaid” or Nemo from “Finding Nemo. Who says your fish’s name though has to come from another fish? Listed below are great fish name ideas from movies, TV shows, and books.

• Buddly
• Fletcher
• Logan
• Leia
• Noah
• Cullen
• Twilight Sparkle
• Cat in the Hat
• Jimmy
• Theo
• Damon
• Gray
• Aurora
• Harry
• Matilda
• Mishu
• Mulan
• Lola
• Oscar
• Luca

The photo featured at the top of this post is © satit_srihin/iStock via Getty Images