Today is a very special day. I want to congratulate you on getting a new finned friend! You have now entered the “honeymoon stage” of your goldfish relationship and are probably spending quite a few minutes gazing in adoration at your new pet. What beautiful fins! What exquisite scales! And just look at that sweet little face! But there is a question weighing on your mind. A very disturbing question: “What do I name my goldfish?” Ah, there’s a lot in a name! You know once you start calling your fish something, it’s bound to stick – so it better be good! A frantic internet search has landed you on this page… And you won’t be disappointed. Because I’m going to provide you with exactly what you are looking for – the GOLD MINE of goldfish names for your use, a priceless list acquired from countless years of experience, and bribing an old man with a bag of Jelly beans. You’ll find everything from funny to clever – to downright amazing. Whether you’re looking for either one (or something in between such as punny fish names, creative fish names and even famous fish names) you’re guaranteed to find exactly what you’re looking for. So let the names begin! 
Table of contents
Most Popular Names for Goldfish
- Bubbles – A good one-size-fits-all
- Comet – Quite fitting for the slim-bodied types
- Flash – Hopefully not due to ammonia poisoning, but a great orange fish name
- Fish – You would be surprised how many people choose this one
- Fin Fin, Finny – Or try getting creative with “Finwick” or “Finderella”
- Goldie – This one takes the cake for the most popular goldfish name, sometimes alternately spelled Goldy, truly the ultimate yellow fish name
- Jaws – I have yet to see a goldfish truly live up to this one
- Nemo – It means “The Man” in Oromo (go figure)
- Splash – For the hyperactive goldfish in your life
- Swimmy – Commonly chosen by children under the age of 5
- Sushi – Upvoted by the family cat
Goldfish Names by Color
Naming your fish by color is a fun way to come up with the perfect fit. One thing to keep in mind: Your goldfish may change colors later on in its life, due to genetics, lighting or other factors. Orange, red and yellow are the least likely to change. Black… that’s another story.
Black Fish Name Ideas
- Batman
- Bandit
- Blackie
- Coal
- Ebony
- Eclipse
- Inky
- Jet
- Licorice
- Midnight
- Onyx
- Pepper
- Shade
- Shadow
Orange Fish Name Ideas
- Amber
- Cheeto
- Clementine
- Copper
- Cutie
- Dorthy (Elmo’s goldfish)
- Ember
- Goldie
- Peaches
- Penny
- Pumpkin
- Sherbert
- Rusty
- Sunset
- Tangerine
Yellow Fish Name Ideas
- Brandy
- Buttercup
- Citrus
- Dandelion
- Flax
- Ginger
- Honey
- Lemon
- Lightning
- Nugget
- Pyrite
- Sandy
- Summer
- Sunny
- Sunflower
Red Fish Name Ideas
- Apple
- Autumn
- Cinnamon
- Cherry
- Crimson
- Flame
- Poppy
- Rose
- Ruby
- Russet
- Salmon
- Scarlet
- Sparky
- Valentine
White Fish Name Ideas
- Alabaster
- Angel
- Aspen
- Birch
- Bones
- Diamond
- Cloud
- Crystal
- Ghost
- Luna
- Popcorn
- Snowy
- Snowflake
- Starlight
- Vanilla
Silver Fish Name Ideas
- Ash
- Bullet
- Chrome
- Dove
- Dusty
- Earl Gray
- Gunpowder
- Hurricane
- Nickel
- Mushroom
- Pebbles
- Platinum
- Smokey
- Steel
- Sterling
- Stormy
- Tornado
Brown Fish Name Ideas
- Acorn
- Amber
- Chestnut
- Chip
- Clove
- Cocoa
- Cookie
- Hazel
- Hershy
- Hickory
- Kitkat
- Nutmeg
- Mocha
- Muffin
- Truffles
- Twix
- Walnut
- Woody
Variegated Patterns or Markings Name Ideas
- Brindle
- Camo
- Callie (short for calico)
- Checkers
- Dapples
- Dice
- Domino
- Dotty
- Flake
- Freckles
- Kaleido
- Marble
- Motley
- Oreo
- Patches
- Snickers
- Speckles
- Spot
- Sundae
Goldfish Names by Personality
It’s a fact that no two goldfish are the same – they all have their own interesting character. So rather than just looking “skin deep” when choosing a name, what about going with something more personal? Some of the best names we can think up for our goldfish are the ones derived from their adorable, funny, or even odd personalities. Take a look at these creative selections that include punny fish names, unique suggestions, and ideas for cute fish names:
Funny Fish Name Ideas
- Hulk
- Shipwreck
- Phelps
- Bille Eifish
- Sharkbait
- Swim Shady
- Swedish Fish
- Loch Ness
- Darth Bait-er
- James Pond
- Sole Mate
- Aqua Man
- Hook
- Fish Fillet
Cute Fish Name Ideas
- Peek-A-Boo
- Guppy
- Sunshine
- Plankton
- Herbie
- Barnacle
- Chovi
- Sweetie
- Bingo
- Nessie
- Sweetie
- Algae
- Flipper
- Mars
- Einstein
- Peppy
- Tofu
Unique Fish Name Ideas
- Bingo
- Bliss
- Brute
- Fang
- Goofy
- Kisses
- Lovie
- Lucky
- Mischief
- Nibbles
- Pokey
- Precious
- Princess
- Scholar
- Smoochie
- Spaz
- Speedy
- Sugar
- Viper
- Zany
- Zippy
Famous Fish Name Ideas
- Dory (Finding Nemo)
- Flounder (Little Mermaid)
- Dorothy ( Elmo’s Fish)
- Marlin (Finding Nemo)
- Gill (Finding Nemo)
- Cleo (Pinocchio)
- Winston (Quack Pack)
Think You’re Finished? You’ve Only Just Begun!
Picking out a name for your fish is just the beginning of your goldfish journey (as I’m sure you’re finding out!). It’s all so new and exciting… But there’s something you should be aware of before you go. Goldfish keeping is harder than it looks. You will want to make sure your finned friend lives a full, happy life by understanding what it takes to be successful. It’s all in my book, The Truth About Goldfish. You can be sure you’re off to the best start with all of the answers at your fingertips. Check it out! 
Final Tips
Names identify your fish. They serve to separate one fish from the next fish, often times goldfish that look very similar. Slight variances in their scales might lean you towards choosing a yellow fish name or something suitable for an orange fish. They also stick. Too often, someone has not taken the time to come up with the right name and end up with something unoriginal and ill-fitting, but because they have called their fish by that name so many times, they can’t change it! It becomes stuck in their brain, or in the brains of their family members. So remember, when naming your goldfish, you pretty much have one opportunity to come up with the perfect name. And goldfish can live over 40 years, so they might be stuck with it for a long time! No pressure, though!
Suggestion #1: Ask for Advice Getting a second opinion can be helpful when trying to name your goldfish. Ask your friends or family what name they think you should call your goldfish. If you are at a loss, don’t be too proud to ask others to help. It’s easy to get stumped, and two heads are better than one! Not only might you be able to benefit from their input, but you can also make them feel like their opinion is valued.
Suggestion #2: Go on a Name Hunt Searching the web has often been a valuable tool in finding names for goldfish. You can search by gender (boys’ names verses girls’ names), by meaning, (color, animal, vegetable, mineral, etc.) by country (Japanese fish names, Irish names, English names, Spanish names…) and by many other categories. I have found it useful to keep a “Baby Name Book” lying around to flip through when it comes to naming pets. They often have definitions beside the names, offer pronunciation guides and similar variations on a name you might like.
Suggestion #3: Name Your Goldfish After Someone The name of a favorite book character, movie star, former president or king, author or someone else you like or admire might make a nice name for a goldfish. This is a great opper-tuna-ty to choose a punny fish name. A fish name so unique, it will be unforgettable to those who meet it!
Suggestion #4: Naming After its Physical Characteristics Is your goldfish the color of a beautiful sunrise? A yellow fish name like “Dawn” or “Rosy” might apply. Think of things that look similar to your fish and try to find synonyms to them. Special patterns and coloring can often bring to mind the perfect name. Does your fish swim a little different than the others? Maybe his fin is an odd shape? The physical characteristics of your fish are often very helpful when trying to come up with a name.
What’s YOUR Goldfish’s Name?
By now you should have some good ideas for what to call your fish. I hope you’ve enjoyed them Now: I’m handing it off to you. What did you decide to name your goldfish (or goldfishes)? Or do you have a few favorites you can’t decide between?
Featured Image Credit: Ammit Jack, Shutterstock
