There’s a lot of excitement about a pet’s new name. Fish names always seem harder to decide. If you have 20 fish in a tank, how do you name them all? Do you have to name them all? No, but it’s fun, and no one is left out.
To help you decide, I’ve come up with an extensive list of good fish names when you need some inspiration.
How Can You Come Up With Names For Your Fish?
Some people have difficulty deciding their pets’ names, and that’s okay. Don’t think too hard; think of your favorite things and which words seem to suit your animal.
Many people like to name their fish by color as it’s often the easiest way to come up with names. Color names don’t have to be boring, either. Is your fish blue? Rather than simply naming it “Blue,” think of more descriptive words for “blue,” like “Periwinkle,” “Indigo,” or “Peacock.”
People often name their pets after their favorite celebrities, movie, or TV characters.
You can even observe your fish’s personality — yes, fish have their own personalities. Are they feisty? Shy? Silly?
Get creative and pick a name that you enjoy.
Cute Fish Names
You’ll want a name to match if you have a cute fish with delicate fins, big bright eyes, or a friendly personality.
Here are some of the best fish names for “cute” fish:
- Bob
- Bobo
- Bubbles
- Casper: the “friendly” ghost from the Casper movies
- Chips
- Cookie
- Cuddles
- Dobby: a house elf from the Harry Potter series
- Flipper
- Flounder
- Flower
- Pongo: The father of the puppies in the movie 101 Dalmations
- Speckles
- Spot
- Squirtle: a turtle-like Pokémon
- Taco
Pretty Fish Names
Fish with beautiful, sweeping fins, bright colors, or fetching patterns need a name to match their attractive features.
Here are some of the best names for “pretty” fish:
- Angel
- Angelica
- Brook/Brooke
- Crystal
- Coral
- Jewel
- Perdita: the mother of the puppies in the movie 101 Dalmations
- Wings
Cool Fish Names
Some fish have distinct colors, sharp and prominent fins, or assertive personalities. A name like “bubbles” just won’t cut it; they need a name that matches their captivating features.
Here are some of the best names for “cool” fish:
- Aegir: the old Norse god of the sea
- Captain Ahab: the main character from the book Moby Dick
- Captain Hook: the villain from the movie/play Peter Pan
- Captain Morgan: a brand of flavored rum
- Captain Jack Sparrow: the main character from the Pirates of the Caribbean series
- Cod
- Cujo: the main character from the book Cujo
- Goober
- Godfather
- Kraken: a legendary octopus-like sea monster
- Long John Silver: The pirate from the story Treasure Island
- Magikarp: a Pokémon that evolves into a dragon
- Moby Dick: the whale from the book Moby Dick
- Muhammad Ali: a famous American boxer and activist
- Neptune: the Roman god of the sea
- Nessie: the legendary Loch Ness Monster who is said to inhabit Loch Ness, Scottland
- Ninja
- Orca
- Pirate
- Poseidon: the Greek god of the sea
- Puff Daddy: an American rapper
- Rocky: a famous American boxer
- Sparky
- Swedish
- Wave
Funny Fish Names
Some fish have features like bulky fins or bulging eyes that make them look silly. Others may have quirky personalities that make you laugh, and they deserve a funny name to match.
Here are some of the best names for “funny” fish:
- Big Mouth Billy Bass: an animatronic singing fish
- Big Joe/Jo
- Bozo
- Charlie the Tuna: the cartoon mascot of the StarKist brand
- Fishface
- Floater
- Harley Finn: a play on “Harley Quinn,” the Joker’s henchwoman from the Batman series
- James Pond: a play on “James Bond,” a fictional British secret service agent
- Gilligan: the main character from the show Gilligan’s Island
- Krusty
- Lake Skywalker: a play on “Luke Skywalker,” the protagonist from the original Star Wars series
- McFish: i.e., the filet-o-fish sandwich from McDonald’s
- Oscar Mayer: an American meat and cold-cut brand
- Pee-Wee: the main character from the Pee-Wee movies
- Puckerface Jones
- Salmon
- Sea Beast
- Slimy Steve
- Slippery
- Stinky
- Sushi:
- Swim Shady: a play on “Slim Shady,” American rapper Eminem
- Tartar Sauce
Unique Fish Names
If you feel like you’ve heard every name in the book, you’re likely looking for something that doesn’t fit the mold. It’s exciting to discover a name you’ve never heard before, and it ensures you’ll never forget your fish’s name.
Here are some of the best “unique” fish names:
- Bahari: Swahili for “ocean”
- Brizo: the Greek goddess of Sailors
- Flotsam: the wreckage of a ship washed up by the sea
- Kai: Hawaiian for “ocean”
- Kaiyo: Japanese for “ocean”
- Miso: a traditional Japanese seasoning
- Sykes: an Anglo-Saxon name for someone who lived near a hill, stream, church, or type of tree
Boy Fish Names
Children often want names distinctly “male” or “female.” It’s often impossible to tell the gender of your fish, but that doesn’t matter as long as it keeps your kid happy.
Here are some of the most popular names for “male” fish:
- Ace
- Ajax: a Greek mythological hero
- Bruce
- Bubba Gump: the best friend of the protagonist in the movie Forest Gump
- Don Lino: the villain from the movie Shark Tales
- Finley
- Finneus
- Jack
- Larry
- Lenny
- Mr. Fish
- Mr. Ray: a character from the movie Finding Nemo
- Nemo: the main character from the movie Finding Nemo
- Oscar
- Otto
- Sardine
- Sheldon
- Stanley
Girl Fish Names
Here are some of the most popular names for “female” fish:
- Ariel: the main character from the movie The Little Mermaid
- Buffy
- Calypso: a goddess-nymph from Greek Mythology and the Pirates of the Caribbean series
- Deb
- Dorothy: the main character in the book and movie, The Wizard of Oz
- Dory: a character from the films Finding Nemo and Finding Dory
- Elsa: a protagonist from the movie Frozen
- Fiona: a protagonist from the Shrek series
- Genevieve
- Katie Current: a character from the movie Shark Tale
- Luna
- Minnie: Disney’s famous female mouse character
- Mrs. Puff: the driving instructor from the show Spongebob Squarepants
- Penny
Names Of Fish By Color
One of the easiest ways to name your fish is to call them by color. Naming a fish by color might not work if you have schools of the same fish, but it works well for solo fish like bettas.
Names For Black Fish
Here are some of the best names for “black” fish:
- Ash
- Batman: a superhero from the DC Comics franchise
- Blackberry
- Coal
- Cosmos
- Darth: short for “Darth Vader”, the villain from the Star Wars Series
- Ebony
- Eclipse
- Inky
- Jet
- Licorice
- Midnight
- Panda
- Panther
- Phantom
- Raven
- Salem
- Serius: a character from the Harry Potter series
- Shadow
- Smoke
- Tux
White Fish Names
Here are some of the best names for “white” fish:
- Arctic
- Avalanche
- Beluga
- Blizzard
- Blondie
- Bones
- Coconut
- Diamond
- Dove
- Glacier
- Great White
- Marshmallow
- Mayo
- Pearl
- Q-Tip
- Salty
- Starlight
- Sugar
Pink Fish Names
Here are some of the best names for “pink” fish:
- Azalea
- Ballerina
- Barbie
- Blush
- Candy Cane
- Champagne
- Cotton Candy
- Cookie
- Flamingo
- Gumdrop
- Lollipop
- Magenta
- Melon
- Peachy
- Piglet
- Sprinkles
Orange Fish Names
Here are some of the best names for “orange” fish:
- Blaze
- Butterscotch
- Carrot
- Cheeto
- Clementine
- Creamsicle
- Dorito
- Ember
- Garfield: an orange cat from the Garfield comics and movies
- Ginger
- Honey
- Mango
- Mimosa
- Orange Slice
- Peaches
- Pumpkin
- Tiger
- Tropicana: a fruit-based beverage company
Yellow Fish Names
Here are some of the best names for “yellow” fish:
- Goldie
- Goldilocks: a character from the British fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- Lemon
- Mac & Cheese
- Popcorn
- Sandy
- Simba: the main character from the movie The Lion King
- Sundance
- Sunshine
Blue Fish Names
Here are some of the best names for “blue” fish:
- Aqua
- Azul
- Azure
- Bloom
- Blueboy
- Denim
- Electric
- Eeyore: the donkey from Disney’s Winnie the Pooh
- Genie: the genie from the movie Aladdin
- Indigo
- Papa Smurf: a character from the Smurf’s comics and movies
- Peek-a-blue
Green Fish Names
Here are some of the best names for “green” fish:
- Algae
- Alligator
- Broccoli
- Cactus
- Clover
- Emerald
- Forest
- Grasshopper
- Hulk: a superhero from the Marvel Comics franchise
- Kiwi
- Lime
- Mint
- Moss
- Olive
Red Fish Names
Here are some of the best names for “red” fish:
- Blaze
- Cherry
- Clifford: a giant red dog from the children’s TV show and books, Clifford the Big Red Dog
- Copper
- Crimson
- Flame
- Rose
- Rosebud
- Ruby
- Scarlet
- Strawberry
Glow Fish Names
Glow fish are stunning under a black light, so they deserve a name that matches their vibrant coloration.
Here are some of the best names for “glow” fish:
- Diva
- Electra
- Glimmer
- Glowy
- Flash
- Neon
- Rainbow
- Shimmer
- Sparkles
How Do Fish Get Their Scientific Names?
If you’re into fish-keeping, you probably refer to your fish by their common names (i.e., neon tetra, oranda goldfish, or panda cory catfish). Did you know that in science, each fish has its own scientific — or Greek or Latin — name?
Greek or Latin names are essential in the scientific community because they ensure that researchers worldwide are referring to the right animal. Common names vary between countries and cultures, so using them can be confusing, and Greek or Latin names eliminate this confusion.
Millions of known plant and animal species need their own Latin name, so how do researchers come up with them?
Each fish gets two scientific names: its species name and genus name.
There are three ways a scientist may come up with a fish’s scientific name, and Conservation Made Simple describes this process:
“Scientific names can be descriptive of;
- The geographical region where the organism lived, or it was found. The Mosasaur, for example, is named a river tributary in the Netherlands where it was first discovered, and Alligator mississippiensis is indicative of Mississippi.
- The person who was instrumental in discovering or describing the species. Richardoestesia, for example, is named after its discoverer Richard Estes.
- A unique body feature or behavioral adaptation of the organism. The word Canis familiaris, for instance, was curated for the most familiar canine. You guessed it right; it’s your loyal dog. Another example is Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, which literally means yellow-head, is descriptive of yellow-headed blackbirds. And the list goes on!”
Conclusion
There are hundreds of popular names for fish, but choosing the perfect one doesn’t have to be a hard decision.
So, now that I’ve provided you with hundreds of the best fish names, it’s time for you to decide which ones suit you.
FAQs
Fish have an inner ear with sensory chambers lined with sensory hair cells. Each ear chamber also contains an ear stone called an otolith. Fish can hear through the vibrations in their inner ear.
The Australian Museum describes the physical process:
“When sound vibrations pass through a fish, the differences in vibrations between the dense otoliths and the sensory hair cells is detected by the auditory nerves.
In some fishes the gas bladder (sometimes called the swim bladder) aids in hearing by transmitting vibrations to the inner ear.”
So, yes, fish can hear you say their names, but that doesn’t mean they understand you. Sound doesn’t travel well between air and water, so your voice sounds like a muffled garble to a fish.
You don’t have to name your fish, but it makes the fish-keeping experience more enjoyable. When you name your fish, you notice their personalities more and recognize them as individuals.
But fish can’t hear very well between water and air. Your voice sounds muffled to them, and they won’t be able to discern words from general sounds. Even if they could, fish aren’t as advanced as other animals — like mammals — so they probably wouldn’t learn their name.
