Naming a fish is one of those small pleasures that catches people off guard. You buy a fish intending to just keep it in a tank, and then one morning you are watching it hover near the heater and you think: that fish has a name. Below are 100 options organized by theme, from color and personality to mythology and the absurd. Some will fit immediately. Others will make you laugh. That is probably the point.
Names Inspired by Color
The simplest names are often the most honest. If your fish is red, orange, blue, or black, its color is the most obvious thing about it. Lean into that. Color names age well because they stay accurate forever, unlike names tied to a phase or trend.
- Ember
- Cobalt
- Scarlet
- Onyx
- Saffron
- Ivory
- Indigo
- Crimson
- Goldie
- Obsidian
Names from Water and the Ocean
Fish live in water. The ocean is full of good names. This category covers rivers, seas, tides, and the places where water goes. Shorter names like Tide or Drift suit fast, active fish, while names like Lagoon or Fathom work for slow, deliberate swimmers who seem to own the space around them.
- Tide
- Drift
- Ripple
- Brine
- Shoal
- Current
- Lagoon
- Fathom
- Crest
- Wake
Names for Personality and Behavior
Some fish earn their names through what they do. The one that charges the glass every time you approach. The one that hides behind the filter for three weeks straight. Watch your fish for a few days before committing to a name. Behavior is often more distinctive than color.
- Tank
- Shadow
- Bolt
- Phantom
- Hoover
- Rampage
- Zen
- Whisper
- Chomper
- Mellow
Food-Inspired Names
Food names are endearing in a way that is hard to explain. There is something about calling a fish Dumpling or Mochi that is immediately correct. These work especially well for round, plump fish like fancy goldfish, pufferfish, and balloon mollies, where the visual match is undeniable.
- Mochi
- Dumpling
- Pickles
- Boba
- Pretzel
- Caramel
- Wasabi
- Nori
- Éclair
- Tofu
Names from Mythology and Legend
Mythological names carry weight without requiring explanation. Neptune, Triton, Leviathan: they are familiar enough to be recognizable and distinct enough to feel special. These suit fish with presence, fish that command attention when they move through the tank. Larger, slower fish often carry mythological names naturally.
- Neptune
- Triton
- Poseidon
- Leviathan
- Nereid
- Oceanus
- Calypso
- Proteus
- Tethys
- Naiad
Famous Fish from Film and TV
Pop culture fish names are well-worn but remain popular for a reason: they are immediately recognizable and carry affection. Nemo is still the most common fish name in the world. That is not a criticism. It is a fact about how much one film shaped the hobby. Use them without apology if they fit.
- Nemo
- Dory
- Gill
- Bloat
- Bubbles
- Peach
- Bruce
- Jaws
- Wanda
- Cleo
Names from Other Languages
Foreign-language names often sound more interesting than their English equivalents because the meaning is not immediately obvious. Azul just sounds better than Blue for a blue fish. These names hold up in conversation and tend to feel less generic than purely English options.
- Azul
- Oro
- Ryu
- Hoshi
- Kai
- Bleu
- Mer
- Rouge
- Zephyr
- Lumière
Names for Distinctive Looks
Some fish have a feature so specific that the name writes itself. A fish with an enormous tail fin: Veil or Pennant. A fish with spots: Patch or Freckle. A fish with a pronounced hump: Knuckle or Boulder. Physical names feel earned in a way that generic names do not.
- Veil
- Patch
- Freckle
- Stripe
- Spot
- Marble
- Halo
- Mosaic
- Dapple
- Blotch
Short, Sharp Names
One-syllable names have a clean utility. They are easy to say, easy to remember, and sit comfortably in conversation. You will say your fish's name more often than you expect, narrating small observations to whoever is nearby. Short names survive that repetition better than long ones.
- Finn
- Bex
- Glow
- Spark
- Blip
- Flick
- Squib
- Zap
- Gulp
- Skid
Names That Are Genuinely Funny
The last category is for aquarists who want a name that makes visitors do a double take. These are the names that come up in conversation and require a brief explanation. They are not for every fish or every owner, but when the fit is right, they are impossible to beat.
- Sir Bubbles
- Flounder
- Fishy McFishface
- Colonel Fin
- Wet Socks
- Gary
- Chairman Mao
- The Honorable Gill
- Blurp
- Aquaman