700+ Awesome Betta Fish Names (Male, Female, Color, Gender, & More)

Just because our fish are silent and confined to their aquariums doesn’t mean they should go nameless! Names are some of the most personable things about fish, besides their ability to recognize you, that is!

So what kind of name do you think describes your Betta fish accurately? Let’s look into figuring out how to choose a Betta fish name!

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How Do I Choose a Betta Fish Name?

Here are a few category ideas to help you come up with some same ideas:

Popular Sources for Inspiration

If you’re at a loss to choose a name for your Betta fish, I highly recommend spending some time simply watching your Betta! What stands out about him or her? Are they extremely active? A bit shy despite having been in your care for a few weeks?

What about their appearance? Do they have patterns that remind you of a favorite character or a dominant color that demands recognition?

Lastly, what are you looking for in the name? Do you want something that makes you laugh, think, feel, or simply describes your fish in a utilitarian way?

There are so many ways to choose a name for your Betta fish. That’s why I’ve laid out the following lists to inspire your creativity as you begin your Betta fish journey! Each list touches on common themes that may lead you to an entirely new discovery, even if the exact name you want isn’t in any of these tables!

Male or Female?

Make sure you figure out whether you have a male or female Betta before you settle on a name! While many of these names work with either sex there are plenty that are best suited for one or the other.

Male Bettas have the long fins, brilliant colors, and fiery tempers that make these fish world famous. Intolerant and aggressive, they are often kept alone in separate bowls – but really need a bit of aquarium swimming space to feel happy and healthy.

Female Bettas have regular fins and are much more peaceful towards one another. They aren’t usually as colorful and thus are a little rarer in the hobby. However if you decide to breed your Bettas, you’ll want to hunt down a few once you’ve settled on names for them all!

Here are some sex-specific names for both male and female Bettas worth considering!

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Male & Female Betta Fish Name

Here are some great betta fish name ideas for both male and female fish:

Male Betta Fish Names

Abbott	Anakin	Attilla	Barnes	Bill	Bodhi	Bowie
Bruce	Butch	Christian	Clyde	Cohen	Costello	Darth
Depak	Doug	Earl	Flamma	Fox	Frank	Gary
Gavin	Han	Harry	Indie	Jacques	Jeremiah	Jesus
Jonah	Jordan	Leo	Leonidas	Louis	Lu Bu	Luke
Mat	Max	Minos	Miyamoto	Morgan	Mulder	Nemo
Noah	Odin	Paul	Peppy	Pike	Ragnar	Saladin
Saul	Shark	Spartacus	Spike	Sun Tzu	Theordore	Zulu

My Favorite Male Betta Fish Names:

Bear: large, older male Bettas often get hunchbacks, long flowing fins, and a mean temper. Bear describes all of this in four simple letters.

Chester: neutral, masculine, and traditional. If you’re not a fan of busy, super clever, or humorous names, why not choose this one?

Finn: I like this name because it’s funny as well as traditionally male. After all, the fins are what attract us most to Bettas!

Scout: an ideal Betta fish name for the active wanderer. When kept nice and warm, Bettas tend to be constantly searching about, looking for scraps of food, busy tank mates, or other Bettas to show off to.

Tank: this is a great name for the pun factor as much as the literal descriptive factor. He’s in a tank, plus he’s built like a tank!…Get it?…

Female Betta Names

Aiza	Anna	Aoi	Athena	Aurora	Brea	Candy
Cassie	Celeste	Chanel	Cordelia	Daisy	Diva	Donatella
Doris	Elsa	Fara	Felicity	Fifi	Fina	Gaia
Gwen	Hope	Iris	Isla	Jane	Jasmine	Jess
Jezebel	Katrina	Kira	Lala	Lavender	Liza	Lorelei
Marina	Nerissa	Olga	Orchid	Pandora	Parisia	Ratu
Rosa	Roxy	Saki	Samantha	Saraswati	Sarita	Sarnai
Sasha	Savannah	Sela	Shana	Star	Sunny	Uma

My Favorite Female Betta Fish Names:

Alyssa: a classic, popular female name that’s great for both humans and Bettas!

Elsa: the incredibly popular heroine of “Frozen.” Great for that blue, white, or purple female Betta in your tank! Just make sure she gets a heater!

Olivia: currently one of the top 5 most popular girl baby names in the United states. Chances are, you already know an Olivia so why not make it into a Betta fish name?

Queen: what better name for a stately female Betta could there be? While not aggressive, female Bettas are confident and stately, often living peacefully in betta fish sororities; groups of princesses that may have a single dominant queen in charge of things!

Zelda: the feminine form of the name Selig, meaning “blessed” in Yiddish. Much better known today for its tie to the Nintendo Game “The Legend of Zelda.”

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Ethnic Betta Fish Names

There are thousands of ethnic names out there that are suitable for a Betta fish! If your origins are from another old culture, consider adding any of your own to this list.

In the meantime, here are some ideas from some regions filled with original, colorful fish names!

Thai Betta Fish Names:

Anong	Apinya	Arinya	Bettah	Chakrii	Chanlina
Chhay	Darika	Jorani	Kaliyanei	Kosal	Kraisee
Lang-Tai	Malee	Meaker	Mekong	Muay Thai	Naga
Naresuan	Nearidei	Nuk Soo	Olan	Oudom	Phra Mae Thorani
Queen Sikirit	Rama	Ransei	Samnang	Siam	ThaiThai

My Favorite Thai Betta Fish Names:

Arthit: this is a strong name, personality-wise. This is “a man of the Sun” in Thai!

Buppha: flower blossom and a fine name for nearly any color of Betta fish.

Nearidei: a white flower from Thailand. A great name for a white or purple & white Betta!

Plakat: probably the best Thai Betta fish name there is because it’s so direct. It’s the Thai name for Betta, which can be literally translated as “biting fish.” How appropriate!

Asian Betta Fish Names:

Agung	Aizen	Akamaru	Akio	Akira	Alon	Apo
Bambang	Bong-Cha	Choon-hee	Datu	Ein	Gaja	Goreng
Haddi	Haji	Holi	Jaya	Jihan	Kaida	Kamikaze
Kappa	Kasih	Kiba	Kidlat	Lamba	Lancer	Manchu
Mandarin	Manu	Masala	Matsya	Mee	Mikasa	Moon
Nami	Narak	Nasi	Oki	Pakkun	Paneer	Perlis
Piao	Raj	Rin	Rojak	Roti	Samurai	Sari
Sumo	Sumo	Taromaru	Tetsuya	Tiger	Totora	Yasuo

My Favorite Asian Betta Fish Names:

Chong: this Chinese name is especially common among Chinese Singaporeans and is quite popular in Mainland China, both for kids and pets!

Don-Don: simple, cute, and undeniably Japanese, Don-Don is a great name that’s simple yet carries the taste of Asia!

Hangaku Gozen: Hangaku Gozen is a somewhat famous historical figure; a warrior woman who lived nearly 900 years ago in ancient Japan. What an ideal female Betta fish name!

Sushi: a little humor goes a long way! Why not try this delightful Japanese name that’s as world-famous as the cuisine it comes from!

Yuan: China’s currency. Considering how valuable and in-demand Bettas are, this is a great name for your fish!

Greek Betta Fish Names:

Acacia	Achilles	Achilleus	Adelpha	Adonia	Adonis	Adrian
Aneas	Agape	Agapeto	Ambrosia	Anastasia	Antheia	Apollo
Artemis	Athena	Basileios	Bernice	Calista	Calliope	Cassia
Chaos	Chobani	Chronos	Corfu	Darius	Elysium	Evan
Ezio	Faustus	Felipe	Flavian	Hephaestus	Hermes	Hypnos
Iris	Kostas	Kronos	Libra	Mars	Minos	Muse
Nike	Olympia	Pan	Persephone	Phoebe	Poseidon	Titan

My Favorite Greek Betta Fish Names:

Artemis: goddess of the hunt, wild animals, and the Moon. If you have a female Betta and a fondness for Greek mythology, this is a fine choice!

Bartholomew: an old, classic name that suits nearly any male Betta out there!

Corfu: one of the most beautiful Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. Often inspired by Mediterranean sunshine, past overseas vacations, and sky blue fins (or waters)!

Pandora: the legendary box of mysteries that unleashed death and other plagues upon the human realm. If your Betta is a secret you keep under lock and key to protect the rest of the world from their wrath, consider this one!

Zeus: Zeus is everything that makes the Greek gods Gods: lusty, angry, wrathful, and powerful beyond measure. The perfect name for an old, self-confident male Betta who rules his aquarium!

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Color-based Betta Fish Names

Here are some name ideas based on the color of you Betta fish:

Red Betta Fish Names:

Alani	Amber	Apollo	Apple	Ardent	Ariel	Auburn	Autumn
Bandit	Beets	Blaze	Bloom	Bordeaux	Brand	Brandy	Burgundy
Cabernet	Cardinal	Carmine	Carrot	Cayenne	Cerise	Cherry	Cheyenne
Chili	Ember	Fennec	Fever	Fuschia	Garnet	Goldie	Gloss
Harvest	Heinz	Lava	Loki	Magenta	Molly	Penny	Pumpkin
Raspberry	Rojo	Rose	Rosebud	Rosie	Rouge	Rowan	Ruddy
Rufous	Sangria	Scarlet	Scully	Shiraz	Sienna	Sun	Sundance

My Favorite Red Betta Fish Names:

Big Red: whether you love the gum or not, we can all agree that this is a fantastic name for a Betta! It inspires visions of cinnamony-goodness and works best with an aggressive, large, single male Betta.

Hibiscus: this is a flower with large, showy blossoms that strongly resemble Betta fish fins! Hibiscus are also used in candy and a delicious tea that’s bright scarlet in color.

Mars: a very apt Betta fish name for an aggressive red male Betta. Mars was the Roman God of War whose name also graces the 4th planet from the Sun!

Miss Frizzle: any fans of The Magic School Bus cartoon? Miss Frizzle’s intensely red hair was a focal point of the show

Firecracker: the explosive bursts of holiday fireworks look quite a bit like the open flowing fins or flared gills of a red Betta, don’t you think? “Firecracker” can also describe the personality of your Betta.

Rooibos: perhaps you and your Betta are more on the relaxed side. If you’re a fan of herbal teas red Rooibos is a favorite around the world. Why not make a statement by choosing this Betta fish name?

Sol: the Latin name for the Sun. What better Betta fish name could there be for a pet with fins streaming like the Sun’s morning rays?

Vulcan: the Romans sure knew how to make great Betta fish names! Vulcan was the god of fire, forges, and volcanoes. All of which have a blazing red heart of fire.

Blue Betta Fish Names:

Admiral	Aegean	Aquamarine	Arctic	Asul	Azure	Baby Blue	Blue
Berry	Blauw	Bleu	Blueberry	Cloud	Cobalt	Cornflower	Denim
Indigo	Iris	Lapis	Midnight	Modry	Navy	Neptune	Ocean
Periwinkle	Peacock	Polū	Sapphire	Sea	Sky	Space	Spruce
Stone	Topaz	Turquoise	Zir

My Favorite Blue Betta Fish Names:

Aeluin: a clear blue mountain lake in Tolkien’s fantasy world. Perfect for the Lord of the Rings fishkeeper.

Aquamarine: there are so many shades of blue out there; Aquamarine is a little darker than Sky but not as dark as Indigo. If your blue Betta has brighter tones, this could be the best name for him!

Blueberry: cheerful and easy on the eyes, Blueberry is by far one of the most popular names for any blue pet, fish or otherwise!

Indigo: of all the shades of blue out there, Indigo may be the hue closest to that of a healthy male Betta. Slightly dark, complex, and moody. What better Betta fish name is there?

Larkspur: these are delightful blue & purple flowers that grow across much of the United States. Their delicate petals resemble the fins of Betta fish.

Neptune: Roman God of the Sea. Also consider Poseidon if you prefer the Greek version!

Black Betta Fish Names:

Ash	Black Pearl	Chocolate	Cocoa	Coffee	Coffee Bean	Cola	Cole
Diamond	Dust	Dusty	Eclipse	Galaxy	Goth	Graphite	Hershey
Liquorice	Midnight	Mirage	Mocha	Molasses	Noir	Nyx	Onyx
Orion	Pearl	Pepper	Raven	Salem	Sea	Sepia	Shadow
Shady	Skye	Slate	Smoke	Smokey	Somber	Sombre	Space
Storm	Tarmac	Thunder	Timber	Twilight	Tynan	Vega	Veil
Velvet	Void	Vulcan	Witch	Witcher

My Favorite Black Betta Fish Names:

Amaya: here’s another Asian name that’s full of character. Amaya means “night rain” in Japanese.

Angus: exactly like the prized cattle. Jet black, just like your Betta fish! Hopefully your Betta is male and just a bit chunky!

Black Beauty: originally a horse from the classic novel by the same name, Black Beauty is perfect for any black pet, Betta, bird, or dog!

Jet: while not as popular as diamonds and other pricier gemstones, Jet is a beauty of a rock. It’s a precursor to coal and has a silky smooth black tone that seems to go on forever.

Kuro: this word is yet another Japanese word. It literally means “black” but it can also mean a clever person! Does this Betta fish name describe his or her personality?

Yellow & Orange Betta Fish Names:

Amber	Apricot	Autumn	Barley	Blondie	Butterball
Buttercup	Butternut	Corn	Custard	Garfield	Glitter
Goldie	Goldilocks	Honey	Mango	Mellow	Melon
Peaches	Pikachu	Saffron	Spark	Sparkle	Star
Stun	Sunbeam	Sunfire	Sunflower	Sunny	Sunshine
Tang	Tangerine	Tiger	Twinkle	Wheat

My Favorite Yellow & Orange Betta Fish Names:

Gleam: this name works for either color, especially if your Betta has a few shiny scales to catch the light as he eagerly awaits being fed!

Sunstar: while both Sun and Star work well individually, combining them is even more special and highlights his brilliant appearance and personality.

Sunrise: sunrise and sunset are two magical times where the sun’s light takes on red and orange tones. If your Betta is a mixture of warm colors this might be the perfect name for it!

Rainbow Betta Fish Names:

Angel	Aurora	Berri	Blot	Butterfly	Crystal
Diamond	Dotty	Firecracker	Freckles	Garden	Grace
Iridescence	Kewel	Kingfisher	Magic	Meadow	Painting
Panda	Patches	Peacock	Picasso	Prism	Rainbow
Rorschach	Ruby	Sheen	Skittles	Splash	Splodge
Spot	Sprinkles	Twinkles	Twinkly	Zebra	Zigzag

My Favorite Rainbow Betta Fish Names:

Chaos: I like this Betta fish name for multicolor Bettas that have no pattern beyond having as many colors as possible. This works even better if your Betta is prone to changing colors over time.

Rhubarb: Bettas with both red and green are quite rare. If you manage to find one, this is the perfect name to highlight his or her distinctness.

Twilight: a great Betta fish name for fish that have several dark tones mixed together, like blue, purple, and black.

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Funny and Cool Betta Fish Names

Looking for something humorous? Here are some funny Betta fish names:

Funny Betta Fish Names

Aegir	Algaemaker	And Chips	Ann Chovy	Aqualad	Aquaman	Ariel	Atlantis
Bait	Barbie	Betta Fett	Betta max	Betta White	Bettamale	Bettaman	Bones
Bubble Fett	Butch	Captain Hook	Ceviche	Chum	Cujo	Dexter	DJ Betta
Donatello	Erie	Featherweight	Fido	Finley	Fish	Fish Stick	Fishboy
Fishgirl	Fishy	Floater	Flounder	Fried	Gaston	Genghis Karp	Gill Clinton
Goldy	H2O	Harley Finn	Jabberjaw	Jacques Costeau	Jaws	Jumbo	Kermit
Leonardo	Magikarp	Marlin	Melville	Michael Phelps	Michelangelo	Moby Dick	Nemo
Oscar	Sardine	Sharkira	Shrimp	Skipper	Spike	Spongebob	Swedish
Swim Shady	Tartar Sauce	Tiny	Tsunami	Tuna	Tuna Turner	Wasabi

My Favorite Funny Betta Fish Names:

Gillbert: a classic with a pun hidden in the spelling! The kind of name that has you secretly smiling when you share it with guests.

Spongebob Bettapants: affectionately known as Spongebob for short. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea??

Sushi: naming when hungry is sometimes a good idea. Fortunately, Bettas are too fresh and too tiny to make good eating!

Personality-based Betta Fish Names

Angel	Awesome	Bandit	Banshee	Bolt	Boss	Bubba
Buddy	Captain	Challenger	Chief	Cuddles	Dash	Dopey
Dora	Eeyore	Einstein	Festive	Flake	Focus	Freedom
Fret	Fury	Gaga	Genghis	Glory	Goober	Happy
Hope	Horror	Khan	Killer	Kizzy	Liberty	Lily
Lovely	Maverick	Monster	Mugsy	Nibbles	Patience	Peace
Pretty	Prince	Ranger	Rocket	Romeo	Sentinel	Serenity
Sloth	Sovereign	Spirit	Sweetpea	Tizzy	Vicious	Watcher

My Favorite Personality-based Betta Fish Names:

Rowdy: this is a great Betta fish name that applies to male and female Bettas alike! While females are tamer, both can have infamously bad tempers!

Sassy: typically a name for female Betta fish. However you might have to come up with a few more names if you decide to start a Betta sorority!

Slick: conjuring up the smart, handsome, bedeviling young man, this is a better name for a male Betta. Preferably one that knows just how slick he can be!

Strong: this name is a great reminder for you to keep on keeping on when the going gets tough!

Pop Culture Betta Fish Names

Aladdin	Andy	Aragorn	Ariel	Aurora	Bambam	Bambi	Bane
Barney	Baxter	Bluto	Boba Fett	Bolt	Boomer	Bowser	Bruce Wayne
Buck	Cersei	Chewbacca	Cooper	Daenerys	Darla	Dobby	Dopey
Dory	Drogon	Duchess	Edward	Elvis	Falcor	Fievel	Flounder
Fodo	Garfield	Gizmo	Gollum	Goose	Groot	Grover	han
Hedwig	Hercules	Hobbes	Honey Bunny	Jabba	Jafar	Jaime	Jasmine
Jaws	Joker	Kane	Lady	Laia	Loki	Mario	Maverick
Meeko	Milo	Morpheus	Mowgli	Nagini	Nala	Napoleon	Nemo
Neo	Nymeria	Odie	Perdita	Phoebe	Piglet	Pikachu	Pippin
Pluto	Po	Riley	Rin Tin Tin	Robin	Rocket	Rocky	Scooby
Sebastian	Shadowfax	Shrek	Simba	Skywalker	Sleepy	Stark	Stitch
Sully	Taz	Thanos	Thor	Tom Nook	Tramp	Trinity	Tywin

My Favorite Pop Culture Betta Fish Names:

Arya: What do we say to the God of Death? Not today! So long as you keep up with your water changes, that is!

Hulk: we’ve all seen male Bettas hulk out when presented with another male…Or a mirror. This is the perfect name for the tiny, angry fish in your life.

Leonidas: even if your Betta doesn’t hulk out I can guarantee he’ll feel the need to beat the crap out of any males in his visual field. Leonidas is the perfect Betta fish name if your guy is an alpha spoiling for a fight!

Tyrion: short, twisted, and all too clever, Tyron is the name I’d choose for oddly colored Bettas with defects like broken fins or hunched backs.

Wilma: do you have a sassy female Betta that knows how to keep her hubby in line? If it’s a white Betta, so much the better!

Meme Inspired Betta Fish Names

Ackbar	Datboi	Derp	Doge	Duckface
Ermahgerd	Fail	Gangnam	Gosling	Grumpy Cat
Harambe	Honeybadger	Jellytime	Keanu	Kermit
Norris	Pepe	Plank	Prince	Putin
Rickroll	Slender Man	Trollolo	Wonka

My Favorite Meme Inspired Betta Fish Name:

All of them. A good meme may not always be timeless but it certainly gets a laugh from friends if they understand it!

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A Note About Keeping Betta Fish

Since you landed on this page, I figured there is a good chance that you just came home with your new betta fish. I wanted to use this opportunity to bust a few common myths about keeping betta fish that could be detrimental to your new pet’s well-being.

Myth #1: Bettas can live in a bowl

Betta fish should never be kept in bowls. The idea that betta fish are fine living in extremely confined environments is a myth spread by big chain pet stores to sell more fish. We recommend keeping your betta in at tank of at least 10 gallons. Regular 10 gallon tanks are super cheap (usually about $10) and will make a much better environment that a tiny glass bowl.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that small tanks are often more work that larger tanks. Small aquarium get dirtier way faster and experience much more fluctuations that larger tanks due to less water volume.

Getting a larger tank at the beginning not only helps your betta fish, but also cuts down on maintenance.

Myth #2: Bettas don’t need filters

While betta fish are definitely more hardy than other freshwater aquarium fish, they absolutely still need a filter. Filters don’t just remove waste and uneaten food – they provide aeration, water flow, and prevent the water from stagnating as well. We talk more about this topic here.

Myth #3: Bettas don’t need heaters

Much like the filter comment above, betta fish need a heater to thrive. They come from warm climates and tanks without heaters often fall below their comfortable levels.

Myth #4: Betta fish can live in bad water conditions

This misunderstanding most likely comes from the myth that betta fish live in tiny puddles in the wild. While their natural bodies of water are indeed shallow, they are usually miles long and give bettas the opportunity to swim freely and openly. The water condition are not dirty and stagnant like we often imagine.

Myth #5: Betta fish eat plant roots

I’ve been seeing a new trend of “aquaponic” tanks that are supposed to be “self-sustaining”. The idea is that the plant and betta fish have a symbiotic relationship – the betta provide nutrients to the plant through waste, and the plant provides nutrients through their roots as a food source.

This is absolutely not true – your betta fish needs additional sources of food and plants roots are not sufficient.

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Conclusion

Believe it or not there are as many Betta fish name possibilities as there are for any other pet! From classic and timeless to the latest pop culture or meme references, there’s a name that will perfectly describe your pet Betta! Good luck deciding and let me know if there’s a name you think truly belongs in this collection!