My first betta fish was named Sir Gillderoy Lockhart, and all the fish I had growing up were named after Harry Potter characters.
When I got older, my pets’ names grew up, too, but I never left puns behind. My most recent betta was called F. Scott Fishgerald.
By staying true to yourself and your interests, you, too, can choose a great name for your betta fish. Our team at Betta Source can help!
How To Choose a Name for Your Betta Fish
Choose a name for your betta fish by considering their appearance and unique personality, as well as your own preferences.
For example, if your fish is red and orange, and you once spent a summer exploring volcanoes in Hawaii, you could name your betta “Lava.” It really is that simple!
Names by Color
Naming your fish by its vibrant color is a fun, easy way to choose a name for your betta. For example, naming your fish after a certain shade of blue is a quick way to come up with a sophisticated-sounding name.
If you’re looking for something cuter, name your betta after your favorite blue food! Explore names by color below.
Names for Red Betta Fish
- Fire
- Flame or Flamie
- Ginger
- Scarlet
- Apple
- Raspberry
- Cherry
- Chili Pepper
- Poinsettia
- Ruby
- Ladybug
- Foxy
- Rust
- Rose
Names for Green Betta Fish
- Emerald
- Chartreuse
- Pickle
- Kiwi
- Mint
- Lime or Limey
- Juniper
- Shamrock
- St. Patrick
- Ireland
- Rainforest
- The Hulk
Names for Blue Betta Fish
- Cobalt
- Aquamarine
- Navy
- Turquoise
- Sapphire
- Dory (like the blue fish from Finding Nemo)
- Blueberry
- Sky
- Ocean
- Hydrangea
- Raven
Names for Yellow Betta Fish
- Sunshine
- Champagne
- Lemon Drop
- Banana
- Chiquita
- Ducky
- Daffodil
- Sunflower
Names for Orange Betta Fish
- Tiger Lily
- Pumpkin
- Tangerine
- Carrot
- Cantaloupe
- Peach
- Mango
- Kumquat
- Persimmon
- Turmeric
- Poppy
- Pansy
- Topaz
- Tiger
- Goldie
Names by Behavior
If naming your pet fish by color feels too easy for you, try to name your betta by its behaviors.
For example, a fish who loves jumping at the top of the tank could be called “Jumper,” or “Hopper,” or even something more creative, like “Javier.” (Javier Sotomayor currently holds the world record for highest jump)!
Other Behavior-based Names Might Include:
- Swimmy
- Speedy
- Disco
- Shark (for a fish that swims in circles)
- Rambo or Rocky (for a fish that loves to fight)
- Curious George
- Bubbles (for a betta that loves building bubble nests)
- And so on.
Witty Names
Some betta lovers prefer witty, tongue-in-cheek names for their fishy friends. One possible example is naming your fish “Sushi.” You won’t eat your betta, but every time you say their name, you will be making a joke. This name also plays on the fact that many people eat some types of fish and keep others as pets.
Another famous witty name is “Jaws,” which shows that betta fish and great white sharks are both fish.
Pop Culture References
Jaws is also a pop culture reference, and naming your betta fish after famous people or characters can be fun.
Some examples of betta fish names that are also pop-culture references include:
- Nemo (this one should be obvious)
- Aquaman (like the superhero)
- Poseidon (from the myth)
- Bruce (the shark in Finding Nemo)
- Shamu (from the now infamous Sea World show)
- Flounder (from The Little Mermaid)
- Sebastian (from The Little Mermaid)
- Rainbow Fish (from the children’s book of the same name)
- Cleo (the goldfish in Pinocchio)
- Blinky (the fish in The Simpsons)
- SpongeBob or Patrick (from the TV show on Nickelodeon)
- Ponyo (from the Miyazaki film of the same name)
- Cosmo (one of the Fairly Odd Parents who pose as goldfish in the cartoon)
- Wanda (from A Fish Called Wanda)
- Leviathan (a biblical sea creature)
- Moby Dick (from the Herman Melville novel we all have to read in high school)
- Nessie (a sea monster that supposedly lives in Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands)
- Captain Hook (from the Peter Pan movies)
You can also try out a historical reference by naming your betta after a famous historical figure who sailed the high seas, such as Sir Francis Drake, Magellan, Blackbeard, or the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Betta Fish Names With Puns
You can play with words to make your betta’s name into a pun. Simply find a name with a “fishy” sounding element and use spelling to bring that name to the forefront. Examples include:
- Betta White (like the beloved actress, Betty White)
- James Pond (like James Bond)
- Finn (a boy’s name of Irish origin that can also refer to your fish’s fins!)
- Swedish Fish (like the candy)
- Marilyn Monroe (roe are fish eggs)
- Johnny Deep (like Johnny Depp)
- Marvelous Mrs. Scales (like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
- Phoebe Waller Fish (like Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the creator of Fleabag)
Sea what you can come up with on your own!
Honor Your Betta’s Heritage With a Name From Southeast Asia
Betta fish are originally from Southeast Asia, and betta breeding began in Thailand, so why not acknowledge your fish’s heritage?
Common Thai Names
Common names in Thailand include:
- Somchai (means ‘real man’)
- Somsak (means ‘worthy of honor’)
- Arthit (means ‘sun’)
- Kittisak (means ‘powerful’)
- Malee (means ‘jasmine flower’)
- Anong (means ‘beautiful’)
- Pornthip (means ‘divine blessing’)
- Praew (means ‘shining’)
If you need more ideas, you can also look for popular names from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Gendered Names for Your Betta Fish
Why should naming your betta fish be any different from naming a child or another pet?
Keep reading for some of the most popular boy, girl, and gender-neutral names — all of which can be used to help you name your betta.
Popular Female Betta Names
The most popular girl names in the United States include:
- Olivia
- Emma
- Charlotte
- Amelia
- Ava
- Sophia
- Isabella
- Mia
- Evelyn
- Luna
Why not borrow one for your female betta?
Popular Male Betta Names
The most popular boy names in the United States include:
- Liam
- Noah
- Oliver
- Elijah
- William
- James
- Benjamin
- Lucas
- Henry
- Alexander
Why not borrow one for your male betta?
Gender Neutral Names for Your Betta
Society may be dictated by gender, but your betta tank doesn’t have to be.
Here are some popular gender-neutral names you can use for your betta:
- Arden
- Ariel
- Briar
- Cypress
- Kingsley
- Merritt
- Jessie
- Marion
- Ollie
- Sam
Do Betta Fish Know Their Name?
At this point, you may wonder why you would even go through all the trouble of naming your betta fish. After all, do betta fish even know their names? The answer to this question is “sort of.”
Betta fish can hear your voice, and some people argue they know their names. What they really know, however, is YOU.
Betta fish know that you are their food source, so they will pay attention when you talk to them.
Can Bettas Learn Their Name?
According to WikiHow, betta fish can learn their name. Your fish may adapt to the patterns in your voice and respond every time you say its name.
While your fish will never be able to say, “Hi, my name is [insert your fish’s name here],” having a name for it can help you use the same word with a lot of frequency and build a bond with your betta.
Your betta fish’s name is more for you, your friends, and your family than for everyone else.
You need a word that you can say to your betta regularly, and your friends and family may want to know your fish by name.
Because your betta’s name is simply a word you will say to it all the time, why not name your betta after the words in the English language that are the most fun to say?
Betta Names That Are Fun to Say
Parade has a long list of words that are fun to say. Here are some you could use as names for your betta fish.
- Erf – a plot of land
- Hullaballoo – a commotion
- Meldrop – another word for mucus (but it sounds cute!)
- Sozzled – drunk
- Smicker – to look after someone with love or lust
- Cleek – big hook (fish hook?)
- Whippersnapper – a name older people use for younger people
- Lollygag – messing around
- Bamboozled – tricked or confused
- Octothorpe – the official name for the pound sign or hashtag symbol
- Smaze – a combination of smoke and haze
- Skirl – the sound bagpipes make
- Blubber – fat, like on a whale
- Dollop – a drop of something, usually food
- Popple – choppy seas
- Ramshackle – about to fall apart
- Gardyloo – a warning cry
- Collywobbles – a stomachache
- Futz – wasting time or messing with something
- Teazel – a kind of herb
- Kibitzer – a Yiddish word that means ‘backseat driver’
- Mollycoddle – someone who is pampered
- Ragamuffin – someone who is dressed in rags or dirty clothes
- Scalawag – a pirate or rascal
- Whirligig – a pinwheel or another spinning toy
- Bupkis – a word that means nothing
- Frou-frou – overdressed
All kinds of words sound silly, so if there’s a word you like saying — in any language — you can use it as your betta’s name.
If I were to get another fish, I might name it “Aguacate,” a Spanish word meaning “avocado,” because I like how it sounds.
Choosing the Best Name for You and Your Betta Fish
The best name for you and your betta fish is a name you like. For extra points, you can choose a name that “fits” your betta or has personal meaning to you.
For example, if you purchased your betta from a breeder on Atlantic Boulevard, you could name your fish after the street name, so you will never forget it. Atlantic is also a great name because it’s the name of an ocean, and some fish come from the ocean!
Maybe you decided to get your betta fish after a breakup. You could name it “Therapist” because it made you feel better. Changing the name to “Therafish” could even add some humor to the situation.
There is no right or wrong answer when naming your betta fish. The choice is entirely personal, and your fish won’t mind — even if you just want to call them a swear word.
Teaching Your Betta Their Name
Your fish might not care what its name is, but it will pay attention to how you say it.
Try to use the same cadence and tone of voice every time you say your fish’s name, so they can recognize and respond to the vibrations. You can also address your betta by name every time you feed it.
Always speak positively to your fish because all animals can pick up on bad vibes.
Betta fish are great listeners, and if you treat your fish like a friend, it will be a loyal companion throughout its life.
What’s More Important Than Naming Your Fish?
The only thing more important than naming your fish is keeping it happy and healthy. Betta Source has endless tips and tricks to help you do that.
We hope we’ve helped you name your betta. Now, check out these articles to learn the best way to take care of your fishy friend: