997 of the Best Names for Betta Fish: Gender, Type, & More!

Its true betta fish don’t recognize their names like a dog or cat can.

But naming your betta is still an essential way to bond with them!

We’ve covered you whether you’re looking for something unique, popular, feminine, or masculine.

Here are our picks for the best names for betta fish organized by gender, ethnicity, color, and more fun categories.

Betta Fish Name Generator


Most Common Betta Fish Names 

CopperPennySushi
RowdyBanditJaws
RosePrincePrincess
AshZeusScout
NemoRexStar

While they’ve definitely been used a lot, I love the names, Scout and Penny.

They’re both cute and short but tell you something about the fish, too, whether their color or their personality.

Male Betta Fish Names 

HossSamDean
RalphIkeGabriel
MichelangeloLukeBuck
ErnieHamiltonCarl
FilippéSonnyRomeo
MartinMichael ScottIan
StefanEddyElmo
StitchOscarOllie
NarutoBarnieBrett
ZachNickAxel
DoylePercyOdysseus 
GuyAlfredKhalid
ZeppelinWinstonTyreese
IsraelNoelSalem
SmallsSeanTitan

There are loads of great names for males, but my favorites are Sonny and Naruto.

Sonny is nice and simple, which is why I find it so charming!

Female Betta Fish Names 

DoryBlossomApril
MaySummerAurora
ArielAthenaDaisy
HenriettaEstherSadie
SandraSkyeMadison
EdnaLuisaIsabela
AdeleGraceRuby
CurieJenniferPhoebe
MelodyHayleyPaige
IndilaLadyAutumn
MariaAmyMeadow
NatalieWilloughVelma
YvetteMissyWillamina
PippaRooneyRamona
YolandaVickieShoshannah

One of my favorite betta names of all time is a great one for females: Curie.

Not only is it a beautiful French name, but your female fish gets to have Marie Curie as her namesake!

This is a great pick for your highly intelligent fish… or a fish which acts like they were exposed to a little too much radiation. Too soon?

Gender Neutral Betta Fish Names 

AugustNyxFern
FridayGrendelGuppy
GucciHobbitHonesty
JiffyJessKai
LabyrinthKiwiLeaf
MaxMintMunchkin
NutmegNookNeo
PawnPestoPotter
QuinceRookRhyme
ZeldaZipperSpade
AtomRavenPunk
RobinScreamThimble
SparkTetrisTaco
PandaOakPixel
RigbyRileyShark

These names are for your nonbinary siamese fighting fish or the one whose gender you still don’t know.

My favorites in this section are Thimble and Punk, but honestly, I would use every one of these names.

Betta Fish Names by Color

Blue 

TARDISIndigoIce
HeroSquirtleSpritz
MistySplashBluey
BubbleSkyeRain
SapphireSonicPeriwinkle

Of all fish species, the betta is a great one to name by color since they come in a huge variety of patterns and shades.

My favorite name for a blue betta is Spritz because it’s so darn cute!

Red

DoomRaspberrySuperfish
CranberrySwiftieMagikarp
LoveMarioMauve
MarshallMcQueenMars
MagentaKnucklesHades
AppleApricotBlush
KetchupRojoFever
ScarletCrimsonK.O.

If red is your betta’s dominant color, I highly suggest naming them Swiftie.

Taylor did release an album called Red, after all.

Not a Taylor fan? Hades is my next favorite.

Black

CrowMidnightOmen
StormWhisperMarceline
LunaJewelInsomniac
MysticMickeyWonder
WednesdayStallion Smokey
VeilSomnusSpirit

Black betta fish are such beauties! I like the name Somnus, which is Latin for sleep. 

Marceline is a great one, too, especially if you’re a fan of Adventure Time.

Yellow

DandelionSunflowerMorty
SunshineHoneyCheddar
MustardMinionLemondrop
Cheese CurdPikachuCitrus
BananaBig Bird Soleil
JauneSquashWario

Your yellow betta is brightening up the room, no doubt. Sunshine and Cheese Curd are my favorites for them!

White

BlancheGhostCasper
PhantomDiamondOlaf
SnowballMarbleMarshmallow
GraniteMozzarellaProvolone
WinterBlizzard Sleet
HuskBoneMoby Dick
LambSkullTrinity

It’s rare to find an all-white betta. If you do, I’m jealous, and I formally request you name them Ghost.

Turquoise 

MintYodaYoshi
IvyHulkHerb
HappyGrapeForest
EmeraldFionaPeppermint
ShrekVine Spruce
LuigiMatchaMoss
JadePlantPine

Turquoise is about as close as betta fish ever get to being fully green. So I would use one of the earthy names like Moss or Mint. 

Matcha and Jade are both super cute too!

Orange

BlazeAmberPumpkin
PeachOrangeLava
CinnamonChiliCoral
TorchWispFox
HobbesCheeto Melon
FireFlareFlicker
RustyJuneButterscotch

As a kid, I loved Calvin & Hobbes, so I would definitely name my cynical orange betta Hobbes.

But Cheeto and Rusty are close runners-up!

Gold 

GoldieMoneyLucky
VigilanteTwinkleUnicorn
BonanzaNuggetNacho
MoxieSparkleBliss
AngelThunder Swaggy

Gold skin makes for a beautiful betta fish, but I still couldn’t resist a cutesy name like Nugget.

If cutesy isn’t your style, Moxie is a much cooler option!

Miscellaneous Color Names

AmbrosiaOpalMaple
OliveVioletAmethyst
VertSteelStony
SprinkleRainbowRadiant
PlumPaintSilver

My favorite from the miscellaneous box has got to be Sprinkle. It’s just so adorable!

Betta Fish Names by Type

Veiltail 

BrideGroomFlow
GiftGlamVanity
SorrowStyleFelicity 

It’s a little silly to name a fish Bride, but I think I’d do it anyway.

Crowntail

KingQueenDuke
DuchessTianaCinderella
RoyalMonarchEmperor
EmpressAristocratCyril

There are many historical figures to name your fish after and keep with the theme of royalty.

Elizabeth or Louis IX are two famous options. Otherwise, scroll through the Disney catalog and you’ll find plenty of princess names.

Combtail 

WigGoldilocksRapunzel
KnotBedheadBraid
MulletDreadlocksShampoo

I can’t stop snickering at the idea of calling a fish Rapunzel. The irony is beautiful.

Double Tail

DuoTwinDoubletake
PairParallelTandem
DuplexCloneDoppelganger

Doubletake and Doppelganger are my top picks here! But if you’re looking for something a bit cuter, Clone is my suggestion.

Spadetail

AceRummyClub
GambleCasinoVegas
EncorePoker Wish

Almost every name here is a winner in my book. But my favorite has to be either Rummy or Gamble.

Half-Moon 

JinxLunarMidnight
PhaseBlue MoonCrater
GromitParmSwiss

Crater is my favorite lunar-themed name. But if you get a blue betta with a half-moon tail, Blue Moon is the way to go.

Delta

MemoryAlphaTheta
PastelFannyChiffon
MulaneyNightmareElegance

When I hear “Delta,” I think of the John Mulaney routine about Delta Airlines.

So, of course, I would pick either Mulaney or Nightmare.

If you’re not a big stand-up fan, consider Chiffon, which is in reference to the appearance of the delta tail.

Half-Sun 

MatinEmberSunrise
EosDawnRay
LumièreBrilloShimmer

Eos is a beautiful word literally meaning dawn. It also just feels like a suitable fish name.

On the other hand, Brillo is a lovely Spanish name meaning bright.

Rosetail

RosebudThornChrysanthemum
DaffodilFantasyLilac
FateKissAphrodite
TulipSageOrchid

The rosetail is aptly named and always reminds me of a flower. I like Tulip and Thorn as rosetail betta names.

But Fantasy is a lovely one speaking to the almost romantic look this fish has.

Feathertail 

SparrowTweetyRoad Runner
PluckyPelicanNest
JayWing Dove
HawkEagleWind
SwallowPigeonPenguin

Sparrow is an amazing fish name. For a feathertail, it’s both fitting and cute!

Depending on your fish’s character, though, you might prefer something like Penguin or Tweety.

Plakat

ShortyRuntOpie
PearlPeacePhilosophy
PeppaVan GoghYolanda

Plakat bettas have shorter fins, so I like the names Opie and Runt for them.

But if you want something more elegant, Van Gogh references the famous painter.

It’s an especially nice name for a fish with a similar pattern to one of his paintings like Starry Night.

Dumbo Ear

ElephantDumboElf
PompomRuffleTumble
BunbunMotormouthTherapy Fish

Strong listeners make the best Therapy Fish

Of course, Pompom is a much cuter name if you’re not looking for a funny one.

Betta Fish Names by Pattern 

Cambodian

GenieFaePisces
SplotchSpikeCrunch
PopsicleDoloresAquarius

The common red and blue Cambodian betta always made me think Popsicle.

But their pattern often has kind of a splotchy appearance, so Splotch is a close second.

Dragonscale

DragonGeneralDream
FolkloreDinoSerpent
ScaleBeastSnuff

The dragonscale betta makes for a stunningly beautiful betta fish. Names like Folklore and Dream are fitting!

Then again, the name Scale is awesome and is definitely a better name for bettas who are rougher around the edges.

Butterfly

ButtercupButterflyPapillon
MothBreezeFrance
CocoonMorphMiracle

Morph is a cool name and is loosely connected to the phases of a butterfly’s life.

I also like Papillon, which is French and translates to mean butterfly literally.

Marble

GarnettDottyCurly
GemConfusionCostello
Cake BatterCookieYogi

My sister-in-law once had a rabbit called Cookie, and I’ve loved the name ever since. It’s just so simple and sweet!

Dotty is another favorite of mine, though.

Mask

JokerDramaD.J.
DarthDeltaGemini
MimeJesterHeidi

Drama is my favorite off this list! Depending on the fish, it might be a good personality name and fit their pattern.

Piebald

CupcakeWallaceBeanie
HairsprayPinkieBuddy
TarteCherry PieSangria

The piebald betta has such a distinct appearance, it’s hard not to name them for their looks!

Pinkie, Beanie, and Sangria are great names if you want an appearance-based name.

Going from the word “piebald,” I love the names Tarte and Cherry Pie.

Solid

SilkUnoMoi
SoloGloryConstance
FlatsSlateSerendipity

Solid-color betta fish are pretty hard to come by. But they’re stunning, which is why I think Glory and Serendipity are great names for them.

Uno and Solo are two more fun choices referring to this betta’s single body color.

Unique Betta Fish Names

Personality-Based Names 

Hyperactive BettaAngry/Aggressive BettaSweet/Cute Betta
Coffee BeanCaptainCharm
CaffeineBossButton
EspressoRoosterBurrito
LatteBullSweetpea
CappuccinoSnipRugrat
MacchiatoSnakeTatertot
ChaiSpurSimba
SportBear Arrow
SkipBlaireBashful

I love the names Blaire and Rooster for the betta with a fiery temper.

But for a much sweeter pet, Tatertot and Sweetpea are just too cute to pass up.

My absolute favorites here are Espresso and Chai, two of my favorite caffeinated beverages.

It’s hard to go wrong naming your pet after coffee!

Lazy BettaIntelligent BettaShy Betta
SlothSherlockSole
SnailEinsteinWolf
SleepyRickSneak
SnoozeDocTurtle
DopeyDr. Spencer ReidBeatle
PotatoGeniusBunny
ZombieSheldonPatience

My favorite from these names are Sole and Dr. Spencer Reid because I’m an introverted Criminal Minds fan.

But I also love Sloth and Bunny, which are great names for peaceful and calm bettas.

What’s great about personality names is they’re easy to combine! If you’ve got an equally smart and angry betta, Doc Spur captures both traits.

Use Snooze Rooster for the lazy alpha male in your aquarium.

Puns 

SwimilySwimothyGill
FinleyFinniganOcean
Bojack FishmanFinjaminFindsay

The possibilities are endless with punny fish names. Choose a TV character or a common baby name and add fin, fish, gill, or sea to it.

SeamoreGillian, Fishabelle… It’s low-hanging fruit, but these are all sure to get a chuckle from your friends and family.

Memes

Little LadBerries & CreamCroissant
Hurricane TortillaFre-Sha-Vac-AdoJohn Cena
YeetKyleBig Brain
Jake From State FarmShalissaYodel Boy
LegitnessFamGood Kush

My favorite funny name is Little Lad, which I picked from the TikTok sound we saw trending last year around this time.

Fam and Yeet are nice and chill, which is exactly what you need sometimes.

Millennials and older Gen-Zers will recognize a few Vine-inspired names here too. These are fun because whether your friends get the joke or not, their reaction will be awesome.

Kids’ Characters 

BambiBarbieBlue
BrunoChaseCalvin
AliceAlvinDaffy
ElsaTomJerry
BugsUrsulaDorothy
TotoFrogToad
MaisyTallulahScooby-Doo
WinniePigletTigger
ChristopherSpongebobPatrick
SandySquidwardMrs. Puff
LarryOld Man JenkinsRubble
RyderZumaRocky
DoraDiegoJosh
SteveJoeSofia
MoanaShaggyWaluigi
PopeyeCliffordPinocchio
WoodyBuzzMater
MatildaGruZooli
OonaNonnyDeema
MadrigalMirabelLilo

These are all great if the betta is mainly your child’s pet or if you’re a sucker for a good animated movie. 

I know my nieces would name a fish after one of the Paw Patrol pups or a character from Bluey.

But maybe your kiddo is a Spongebob Squarepants or Toy Story fan and wants to take inspiration from them.

So many kids’ shows include characters with creative and unique names, and they’re all fair game for naming your pets!

TV Favorites 

TahaniChidiEleanor
JanetCastielCrowley
CharlieBalthazarSarah Lynn
HotchnerJ.J.Prentiss
GarciaGideonBuffy
SchmidtCeceCoach
Mr Peanut ButterDianeMr. Meeseeks
GuntherDarylMichonne
NeganMaggieGlenn
CarlHershelWalt
JessieSaulRoss
RachelLucilleRicky
LaverneShirleyMork
MindyCastleBeckett
MonkSullyQuinn
WalkerLorelaiGilmore
Little JoeAdamBen
CartwrightWinchesterHomer
MargeBartLisa
CartmanStanKenny

I’m biased toward my favorite shows, but I like the names Castiel, Crowley, and Sarah Lynn.

When I was eleven, I definitely would have gone for Little Joe or Cartwright, though.

There are some other fun names based on old westerns I didn’t even include. Maverick is a cool example.

For something more universal and classic, Lucille and Ricky are cute. They work especially well if your fish has something of an easygoing and goofy personality!

Movie Favorites 

HarryHermioneRon
HagridDumbledoreVoldemort
DracoMalfoyGranger
WeasleySlytherinHufflepuff
RavenclawGryffindorRambo
SkywalkerCarrieChucky
PennywiseGandalfGremlin
McClaneStarlordGroot
GamoraThanosStrange
Black WidowMarvelBatman/Batfish

I only wrote a few ideas from some of the most popular movies of this century. Don’t be afraid to pick something more obscure from a movie you love.

When someone asks how you picked your betta’s name, you’ll get to make them watch your favorite film!

As far as these popular franchises go, my favorites are Groot and Draco.

But if I got to pick something lesser known, I’d name a fish Nadine after Hailee Steinfeld’s character in The Edge of Seventeen.

Musicians

Baby SpiceScary SpiceSporty Spice
BeyoncéRihannaLizzo
BillieCashDolly
ConanCavetownAriana
BridgersRebaShania
BowieWilliamsAvril
NasParamoreEminem
MitskiStromaeCardi
FuentesGerardJoel
RosaliaAguileraHalsey
KiyokoArethaMJ
ElvisPresleyCeline

Celine and Aretha are lovely names for female pet fish, while MJ and Conan are great for males.

If you want something more fun, though, make your fish a spice girl!

Broadway 

Aaron BurrAngelicaEliza
LafayetteRogerMark
MimiMaureen Evan
WickedHeatherVeronica
GlendaElphabaRoxie

Out of all our musical names, I like Glenda and Mimi the best.

But when I was thirteen and hooked on Hamilton, I definitely would have chosen Angelica.

Authors

BaldwinTorresAgatha
AustenBechdelToni
ThoreauAchebe Fitzgerald
FoucaultVirginiaSteinbeck
MachadoConradGaiman

Bechdel is my favorite author name to give a pet fish. But Fitzgerald has a nice, so-fish-ticated sound to it. 

Literary 

Jane EyreWilburCharlotte
SulaSonnetSoliloquy
OxfordApostropheHaiku
GatsbyVerbUtopia
VersePoetOnomatopoeia
PalindromeMacbethHamlet
Iambic PentameterIronyAllegory
ParodySimileAmpersand
GrimmChorusSynonym
AntagonistDanteParable 
PiggySimonWinn-Dixie
MarchMegBeth
JoMarmeeBennet
DarcyRosasharnCasy
JoadLitRhetoric

Lit names are loads of fun! My top picks are Gatsby, Sonnet, and Allegory.

I also love the name Lit because it’s so cute and short.

Video Game Inspired

SkyrimSeranaSheogorath
FalionDerkeethusBalgruuf
HadvarValeriusDragonborn
AelaVault-DwellerMothman
Nuka-ColaHancockValentine
GarveyDanseBethesda
SheepsquatchArthur MorganMicah
GamerXboxCOD
ClancyRookChorizo
GuapoCastilloApex
LifelineWraithOctane
PathfinderBloodhoundBangalore
EndermanCreeperWither
LexaMenaceFranklin
De SantaBrigitteCassidy
BaptisteDoomfistBastion
AlfonsoAudieBroffina
FrecklesGulliverGullivarrr
Pac-ManCrewmateImposter
BonnieChicaFreddy
AbigailSebastianDemetrius

Being a vault-dweller myself, I have to make Sheepsquatch and Nuka-Cola my favorite game-inspired names.

But almost any name from Apex Legends is also creative and full of personality. For example, Octane and Lifeline are unique and work for fish of either gender.

Ethnic Betta Fish Names 

Asian

SumoBettahDon-Don
SamuraiSariTotora
SiamPlakatOudom
KasumiMatsyaOki
ManchuKichiManu
KappaKaidaHoli

French

PoissonBeautéMadeleine
ChefVeritéÉtranger
CamusParisSartre

Greek

PersephoneNikeEurydice
OrpheusOlympusNami
ArtemisHermesPoseidon

Spanish

AbuelaPezDani
AguaCielaAmora
ÁvilaCruzSoledad

My favorite names in languages other than English are the Japanese name Don-Don, Spanish name Pez (fish), and Greek name Poseidon.

Off-Beat Names for Fish

SertralineCastorOrgan
WikiSeroquelTonic
JengaCellophaneIbuprofen
RumPincerHelium
OzarkPuzzleJohn Doe
Jane DoeHexPorkchop
GroovyFentyEbony
DumplingDracaenaGoofball
CyclopsRuinSpoon
BlinkCoiffeBrine
ProzacAntiheroAdonis
AnonymousCipherWendigo

My favorites are Prozac and John/Jane Doe. But if you’re willing to go even farther off the map, some people like to name their pets after random appliances. 

Have you ever met a fish named Toaster? You don’t want it to be cute, I know. But it is.

Ironic Betta Names 

FluffScruffyFido
FerretPilotRunner
FuzzballAlaskaKitty
Land-DwellerBirdieSalty
GiantLoudmouthPup
MouseFeatherDusty
PonyAridTank

These aren’t the most popular names, but they do have a lot of personality. My favorite here is Scruffy.

LandDweller is a wacky and hilarious name for a fish, though. 

Picking Your Favorite Name

We’ve given you nearly 1,000 names to choose from, including masculine and feminine names, names for your fish with a fiery temper, and plenty more.

But at the end of the day, your choice should reflect who you are and your pet.

Send our list to a friend in need, so we can help them pick a name for their pet (fish or not)!

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Author

Jacinta was raised on a dairy farm in Vermont where they worked extensively with cows, chickens, pigs, goats, and other animals. They have a background in writing both creatively and professionally.

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