Now you’ve got your new betta fish home, first thing you must do is set up their tank and plan to properly care for them. Second to this? You’ve got to choose them a fitting name — but how?
You can choose a name for your betta fish in several ways, drawing inspiration from your life, your interests, what particular type of betta fish you have, the appearance of your fish, or simply pick something you think sounds cool.
While classic fish names, such as bubbles, have their place, many modern aquarists prefer to be more creative when choosing a name for their fish.
Even if the fish will never know their name, you’ll be telling it to curious friends and family members for years to come, so it’s best to pick something you won’t be embarrassed by.
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How to Choose a Name for Your Betta Fish
Here are some ideas of how to choose a suitable name.
- Pop culture names — Select a name inspired by one of your favorite movies, TV shows, books, comics, or celebrities.
- Friend and family names — Why not name them after a loved one?
- Appearance-based names — Choose a name based on the color or general appearance of your new betta fish.
- Personality-based names — Observe your new betta and pick a name based on the kind of personality they have, for instance confident, shy, or funny.
- Food names — If you’d like a cute name for your new betta, try naming them after one of your favorite foods.
- Mythological names — Name your betta fish after your favorite characters from Greek, Roman, or Norse mythology.
- Animal names — Why not be confusing and name your fish after a different animal?
If you still need some help after reading through these suggestions on how to pick a name for your betta fish, we’ve come up with an extensive list of names to choose from.
Best Names for Male Betta Fish
© lalalululala / Adobe Stock
Owners of a male might choose to call him a traditionally masculine name, though there’s no harm in subverting gender stereotypes and opting for a more feminine or unisex name. After all, your new betta has no real concept of gender.
That said, to start with we’ve put together a comprehensive list of male names you might choose to give your betta fish.
Some are taken from popular TV shows, movies, etc., where they might suit betta of a particular personality or merely have a nice fishy ring to them. Here are some of the best names for male betta fish.
Abe | Frank | Mulder |
Adam | Garland | Nardole |
Admiral | Gary | Nemo |
Albert | Giles | Noam |
Albus | Gonzalez | Odin |
Anakin | Han | Parker |
Andy | Harry | Paul |
Apollo | Hiro | Peter |
Ares | Homer | Pike |
Atticus | Indie | Presley |
Balder | James | Reiichi |
Bart | Jamie | Ron |
Bear | Jem | Rory |
Bobby | Joey | Ross |
Bowie | Jose | Ryan |
Brian | Jupiter | Sarjan |
Bruce | Kylo | Severus |
Butch | Larry | Sirius |
Captain | Leland | Spike |
Chandler | Leo | Steve |
Charger | Leonard | Thor |
Christian | Loki | Timmy |
Clyde | Louis | Tom |
Cohen | Lucian | Vader |
Colin | Lucius | Walter |
Dale | Luke | Wayne |
Darth | Lupin | Wilfred |
Dave | Mal | William |
Depak | Mars | Wolf |
Doctor | Matt | Xander |
Doug | Max | Zappa |
Draco | Minos | Zeus |
Fox | Moe | Ziggy |
You might also be interested in:
- Best betta food – Buying guide and recommendations
- Best betta tank – size really is everything!
- Best plants for betta fish – Bringing nature indoors
- What do beta fish eat – Let’s mimic their natural diet
Best Names for Female Betta Fish
Females are more drab and less showy than their male counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve awesome names!
You could name a female after a friend or relative, look to pop culture, or simply choose a name you like. Some people like feminine or flowery names for female bettas, whereas others prefer strong names.
Unlike males, which must be kept without another betta in their tank, females can live in groups, so you might want to choose names that go with one another.
Abigail | Effie | Norma |
Amanda | Elizabeth | Olivia |
Amelia | Elsie | Ophelia |
Angela | Emma | Orchid |
Anya | Esther | Padma |
Astrid | Euphemia | Paris |
Athena | Evelyn | Parvati |
Audrey | Fleur | Patience |
Ava | Freya | Patricia |
Bella | Geraldine | Persephone |
Belle | Ginny | Phoebe |
Berry | Grace | Pixie |
Bess | Hannah | Princess |
Betty | Hannah | Priscilla |
Blanche | Harmony | Queenie |
Buffy | Hermione | Rachel |
Bunny | Hope | Rey |
Camilla | Josie | Rose |
Carly | Kat | Ruby |
Cher | Laura | Sarah |
Cho | Lauren | Shelly |
Coco | Leia | Skyler |
Cora | Lily | Sophia |
Cordelia | Lola | Sybil |
Cupcake | Louise | Tara |
Daisy | Lucy | Tatum |
Diana | Luna | Thelma |
Dianne | Lyla | Veronica |
Donna | Marnie | Viola |
Doris | Mary | Violet |
Drusilla | Miyoko | Wendy |
Duchess | Molly | Willow |
Edith | Monica | Yasmin |
Unisex Names for Betta Fish
© lalalululala / Adobe Stock
Unisex names are suitable for both males and females.
Males and females look different from one another (males are larger with more vivid colors and long, flowing fins), so you’re unlikely to have a betta fish you don’t know the gender of, but you can still choose a unisex name.
You may always prefer unisex names to specifically male or female names, or you might just like a particular unisex name or think that it suits your new fish.
Below you’ll find a wide selection of unisex names, some of which are cute, others of which are more serious. Either way, you’re likely to find something that catches your eye. And, if not, we’ve still got many more name ideas to come.
Aki | Drew | Pretzel |
Akira | Edamame | Puff |
Alex | Eleven | Punk |
Alfalfa | Ellis | R2D2 |
Alto | Falcore | Rain |
Alva | Fender | Ren |
Angel | Frankie | Riley |
Ashley | Harper | River |
Aubrey | Hayden | Salsa |
Avery | Hollis | Scout |
Bailey | Hunter | Shay |
Bongo | Jamie | Snap |
Brid | Java | Sparky |
Brook | Jessie | Splash |
C3P0 | Jo | Stevie |
Cameron | Jordan | Stinky |
Carob | Karma | Storm |
Casey | Kelsey | Tanner |
Chaos | Kennedy | Tiki |
Charlie | Laser | Tory |
Checkers | Leslie | Tsunami |
Chewie | Lucky | Val |
Chipper | Macaroni | Waverider |
Chips | Magic | Waves |
Chutney | Micah | Winter |
Clem | Noodle | Wotsit |
Crackle | October | Wren |
Crash | Pal | Wyn |
Cricket | Palmer | Yang |
Daikon | Parker | Yin |
Dale | Payton | Yoda |
Devon | Pepper | Zag |
Dresden | Popsicle | Zig |
Funny Names for Betta Fish
© surachetkhamsuk / Adobe Stock
Humor is important in life, and if you can’t have fun when you’re naming your fish, when can you? So we’ve come up with a range of funny name ideas for betta fish.
Some are puns, some are referring to the fact betta fish are also known as Siamese fighting fish, and others are humorous because they’re not the sort of names that you’d usually give a fish.
So, if you’re always cracking jokes or you’re known as the class clown, choosing a funny name just makes sense. We can’t guarantee that each and every one will put a smile on your face, but we’re sure at least a few will make you chuckle.
We certainly had fun coming up with them!
Alpha Betta | Fin-ley | Lake Skywalker |
Aqua Fin-a | Floater | Lovely Bubbly |
Aquaman | Fluffy | M. Sea Hammer |
Betta Max | Georgia O’Reef | Muhammad Ali |
Betta Midler | Gill-bert | One True Cod |
Betta White | Gilly Nelson | Rocky |
Captain Hook | Hammerhead | Sushi |
Carrie Fisher | Harley Finn | Swedish |
Cujo | James Pond | Swim Shady |
Fido | Jaws | Tuna Turner |
Cute Names for Betta Fish
© lalalululala / Adobe Stock
Betta fish aren’t exactly as cute and cuddly as a fluffy puppy or a tiny baby pony, but we can’t see why you shouldn’t give yours an adorable name, anyway. These cute names for betta fish will have you squealing with joy!
Food names are generally a good bet when coming up with cute name ideas, but any name that screams “adorbs” has made it onto this list.
These sickly-sweet names might not be for everybody, but if you’re a fan of the cute and kawaii, pay close attention!
Aggie | Fifi | Pinko |
Albie | Floof | Pixie |
Ally | Freckles | Pops |
Apple | Fuzzles | Posey |
Archie | Gizmo | Puffin |
Baby | Glitter | Rainbow Brite |
Bambam | Gopher | Rascal |
Bambi | Gracie | Roo |
Berry | Gravy | Roomba |
Binky | Gumdrop | Rudy |
Biscuit | Gwennie | Sausage |
Bliss | Happy | Scrappy |
Bonsai | Jazzy | Scrinkle |
Boo | Jeffie | Shortcake |
Bug-Bug | Jelly | Skittles |
Butters | Kiki | Socks |
Buttons | Kitty | Soda Pop |
Cookie | Love Heart | Sparkles |
Crinkle | Lulu | Sparky |
Crumpet | Marshmallow | Spoops |
Cuddles | Merry | Squish |
Dinky | Monkey | Suki |
Dipsie | Mr. Chips | Sweetie |
Dixie | Muffin | Taco |
Dodo | Nibbles | Tiggy |
Dolly | Nipper | Tinkles |
Domino | Oreo | Tiny |
Donut | Pee Wee | Tofu |
Doodle | Penny | Twinkle Toes |
Dory | Pickles | Wasabi |
Dweeb | Piglet | Wiggle |
Ellie | Pinball | Winkle Picker |
Fairy | Pine Nut | Winnie |
Betta Fish Names by Color
What’s the first thing most people will notice about your betta fish? We bet it’s their color, so why not give your new friend a name based on their hue?
We’ve collected several lists of names, sorted by color, so you can easily find the relevant color and search for a name.
Whether your new betta is orange, red, yellow, black, white, blue, or multi-colored, we’ve got a name for you. Some are obvious, whereas others are more creative, but either way, you’ll find some cracking names here.
So, check out these names by color and prepare to find that perfect moniker.
Names for Orange Betta Fish
© lamyai / Adobe Stock
The following names are best suited to orange betta fish. We’ve got names inspired by famous orange characters, orange items, orange foodstuffs, and basically anything related to the color orange.
Amber | Clementine | Nacho Cheese |
Apricot | Copper | Nectarine |
Arancione | Crookshanks | Orangeade |
Auburn | Dorito | Peaches |
Autumn | Ember | Persimmon |
Butternut | Fanta | Pumpkin |
Butterscotch | Garfield | Rusty |
Candy Corn | Ginger | Satsuma |
Carrot | Gingersnap | Sunset |
Cheddar | Goldie | Tang |
Cheese Puff | Mandarin | Tangerine |
Cheeto | Marmalade | Tigger |
Names for Red Betta Fish
© Patiwat / Adobe Stock
Does your betta fish have a beautiful red hue? Well, why not try one of these excellent names?
Apple | Poinsettia | Russet |
Blaze | Poppy | Scarlet |
Cherry | Red | Strawberry |
Coral | Rosella | Strawberry Shortcake |
Crimson | Rosie | Valentine |
Fever | Rosso | Vermilion |
Flame | Ruby |
Names for Yellow Betta Fish
© sakhorn38 / Adobe Stock
Yellow appears a lot in nature, so we’ve got a selection of nature-inspired names for yellow betta fish, as well as some cute and funny options.
Barley | Honey | Star |
Blondie | Mellow | Sunflower |
Butterball | Mustard | Sunglow |
Buttercup | Pikachu | Sunny |
Custard | Saffron | Sunshine |
Names for Black Betta Fish
You can find plenty of excellent names for a black betta fish. Some come from black objects or foods, whereas the darker side of life inspires others.
Anise | Ebony | Panther |
Ash | Eclipse | Pepsi |
Beetle | Ember | Raven |
Blackfish | Grimm | Reaper |
Blackjack | Guinness | Shadow |
Char | Ink | Smokey |
Cinder | Licorice | Smudge |
Coal/Cole | Midnight | Soot |
Coffee | Nero | Tar |
Crow | Olive | Velvet |
Damien | Omen | Voodoo |
Donnie Darko | Onyx |
Names for White Betta Fish
© pakpong pongatichat / Adobe Stock
If you’re looking for a name for your white betta fish, you can turn to all things white and wintery for inspiration. Or, if that’s too obvious for you, there are subtler choices, too.
Arctic | Ivory | Quartz |
Aspen | Jasmine | Snowball |
Beluga | Magnolia | Snowdrop |
Blizzard | Mayo | Snowflake |
Diamond | Misty | Snowy |
Dove | Moonshine | Sugar |
Ghost | Opal | Swan |
Glacier | Polar | Vanilla |
Icicle |
Names for Blue Betta Fish
© sakhorn38 / Adobe Stock
Your striking blue betta deserves an awesome name to go with their vivid color. Our favorite names for blue betta fish are listed below.
Aqua | Blueberry | Marine |
Aquamarine | Cobalt | Neptune |
Blue | Cookie Monster | Sapphire |
Blue Moon | Cornflower | Sea |
Bluebell | Cyan | Sky |
Names for Multi-Colored Betta Fish
© montree999 / Adobe Stock
Many betta aren’t just one solid color. Instead they have multiple hues adorning their bodies. Here are some great names for multi-colored betta fish.
Aurora | Patches | Skittles |
Dotty | Peacock | Splodge |
Freckles | Picasso | Spot |
Kingfisher | Prism | Sprinkles |
Panda | Rainbow | Zigzag |
Betta Fish Names Based on Personality
© jitpitak / Adobe Stock
Sometimes the best names are based on your fish’s personality. Think about your fish and what they’re like.
Are they shy or confident? Aggressive or passive? Clever or a little bit slow? Any of these personality traits (and more) could be the inspiration for a fitting name.
You can be quite obvious with personality-based names, or you can choose a subtler approach. Either way, you may come up with a name that suits your fish to a tee.
Check out these betta fish names based on personality and see if any of them suit your fish.
Bandit | Fang | Prince |
Banshee | Fizz | Raptor |
Bolt | Flake | Rocket |
Brains | GaGa | Rowdy |
Champ | Genghis | Sabre |
Charmer | Goober | Sassy |
Chief | Hannibal | Scruffy |
Chomper | Happy | Serenity |
Clogs | Haughty | Slick |
Cowboy | Hulk | Sloth |
Crusher | Jet | Speedy |
Cuddles | Jiffy | Spirit |
Dart | Khan | Sting |
Dash | Killer | Sweetie |
Dean | Liberty | Tizzy |
Diablo | Lux | Turbo |
Dink | Monster | Viper |
Dizzy | Mugs | Wolverine |
Doofus | Nibbles | Xena |
Duke | Outlaw | Yawner |
Einstein | Patience | Zoom |
Conclusion
That’s it for this edition of the betta fish name game. We’re sure you will have found something suitable in our lists above, though of course we also know we’ve scratched the surface.
However, we have another extensive article on the best names for goldfish you might like to look at for further inspiration? Although another species, many of the names would still be suitable for a betta. Take a look, there might be something that floats your boat? You can check it out here: Best names for goldfish.
And if your bettas name isn’t on the list, or you know an interesting, funny, cute or plain weird name that would be apt for a betta fish that we haven’t mentioned please do let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!
Happy fish keeping!
37 comments
A wonderful list! I see almost all the names I’ve ever used, and some great new ideas. Thanks you.
Thank you Jenae 🙂
Great list!
Thank you 🙂
Mine Betta is a Half-Moon Betta, Blue and black, I gave him the blue diamond name, Saphire 😀
Sounds very appropriate and is a great name! Thanks for sharing!
I have a blue and aqua crown tail and his name is Mr. Freeze, an Aqua body with white fins crown tail and his name is Cirrus for the cloud formations and a dumbo butterfly opaque with an opal sheen named Casper.
Love the Mr Freeze, sounds very apt for that coloring 🙂
I’m getting a Betta half moon that’s white and purple this weekend and I’m planning on naming him nibbles, thanks for the great idea!?
I love this list!!!!!!!! I got a Veiltail male Betta. he is mainly blue , but many other colurs too. So I named him Neptune and call him Nepy ! Again love this list !!!!!
Hi Payton,
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it. And hey cool name, Neptune, a Roman God no less!
I bought a gorgeous crimson red Beta at the beginning of the Chinese year of the Rooster. I called him Rooster and it suited him. When he got excited to see me, he would dart around flaring his lovely red combs. Sadly, I lost Rooster last night. I finally figured out he had swim bladder disease and brought home medication for him but it was too late. I will definitely recognize the signs if it ever happens again.
Sorry to hear of your loss, that’s very sad Nancy 🙁
All of the names that you have suggested where wonderful and unique! Today I got a new beta that is brown and aqua and I loved the name Ryan that you put on the list so I chose that one.
Thank yo McKenzie, I’m glad it was useful. And good name choice 🙂
I got a female vailtail today. I want to either name her Sapphire, Neptune or aqua. With would you use?
Hard to say as it’s a very personal thing, but Sapphire sounds a bit more unique, different and stands out to me.
I have a red one named Venus and a white and red, almost has an iridescence about him, named ghost. Thank you for the post it was very well thought out!
Thanks, Ashley.
Very helpful name list. My Double-Tail is blue, lavender, and aquamarine. Neptune is a great choice. Thanks.
Thanks Steve, nice to hear it’s been helpful!
im getting a water garden for christmas what can i do
Hi Ayden, could you be more specific?
I’ve just brought home my first betta ever. He is a half moon betta dark blue and teal with white tips on his lower fins…. Do you have a name suggestion for him by any chance?
Hi Jessica,
Do none of the blue, or perhaps multicolored names above suit?
I ended up naming him upon color and personality,Prince is shy,sweet,somewhat stubborn,and colorful at the same time. Thank you so much!
Sounds great 🙂
Ive had my fishie for a few weeks now and ive just now decided to name him Sevin. Thats my favorite number and I always thought it would be a cool name…
Thanks for this list! I have had three male bettas and plan to get another one tomorrow. The first one is a black and turquoise half moon named Ninja, the next is a pinkish white Dalmatian veiltial named Lavender/ Shark Bait, and the last is a watered down pink and blue named Samurai. Ninja died the day before National Ninja day. I was sad.
Great names, Keira. And sorry to hear about your loss…such bad timing too! (not that there’s ever a good time of course :-s )
Mr Limpet
Just got a new Betta fish, and named it dorrito! Your list was so helpful?! Thanks!
I was looking for a name for my new Betta and have two names I have used in the past I didn’t see on your extensive list you might like. Blue Beard and Fanfare
Hi Nancy, sounds good thank you. I will add to the list when I get a chance 🙂
Hey I have a white and red betta he’s a half moon
and I don’t know what to name him.
Hi Emma,
Have you been through the lists above? Tyr writing down a few of your favorites, a short list. Leave it a couple of days and then read it again to see which jumps out at you.
i think sirius black is a good name for a black betta