200+ Betta Fish Names With Meanings and Origins

Naming a Siamese fighting fish is the best part of bringing one home. This page holds more than 200 betta fish names, grouped by female, male, cool, and color, with the meaning or origin behind each one.

Some are soft, some are ridiculous, and plenty are still busy with American parents. Where U.S. birth records have a match, the entry carries that name’s current rank, so you can tell a Luna from a Nuk Soo before you commit.

Read the short section below on how to choose, then work down the lists. The name you keep saying out loud is the one to use.

What Should You Name a Betta Fish?

Name a betta for what is in front of you: its color, its fins, and its temper. The species comes from Southeast Asia, where it lives in standing water such as shallow ponds, rice paddy fields, and puddles ⁽¹⁾, so Thai and regional picks like Plakat, Sirikit, and Mekong sit naturally on a betta. Color names are the other safe route, because you can see the answer through the glass.

Three filters cut a long list down fast. Say it out loud, since you will use it every day at feeding time. Keep it short enough to call across a room. Then check whether you want a name people share: ranks in the entries below come from U.S. Social Security Administration birth records ⁽²⁾, and they range from Noah at #2 in 2025 to Nessie at roughly one girl in 333,000 births.

A name is not the only thing your fish needs. A betta belongs in a tank of 5 gallons or larger held between 76F and 81F, not a bowl ⁽³⁾. “Betta fish are often seen living in bowls that are too small to allow for normal swimming and hiding behavior. They should not live in bowls,” said Dr. Krista Keller, a board certified specialist in zoological medicine at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Get the tank right first, then enjoy arguing about the name.

70 Adorable Female Betta Fish Names

You “betta” watch out for these girl betta fish names. They run from Greek goddesses to sweet treats, and several of them still rank in the U.S. top 100.

1. Angel: Greek for messenger. Also a soft fit for a pale or white girl. Social Security records still put it at #67 in 2025.
2. Ariel: A biblical name that most people hear as the red haired mermaid in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Made for a copper or orange betta.
3. Athena: The Greek goddess of wisdom, handed to the calm one who watches everything from behind the plants. She sat at #109 in 2025, down from her 2023 best of #76.
4. Aurora: Latin for dawn, and Sleeping Beauty’s given name. It reached its highest U.S. rank ever in 2025, at #15.
5. Bea: Short for Beatrice. Latin for bringer of happiness. Two letters to shout across a room.
6. Beauty: An old English pet name given for looks and nothing else. Say it once and you have set the expectations.
7. Bess: A Hebrew rooted short form of Elizabeth, meaning God is my oath. Vintage, and it peaked with American parents back in 1913.
8. Bonnie: A Scottish endearment for a pretty girl, carried today by actress Bonnie Hunt.
9. Buffy: A tougher spin on Elizabeth. The vampire slayer owns it now. It has dropped out of the SSA data entirely since 2024.
10. Ceto: Greek for sea monster, after the sea goddess. Comic on a fish this size, which is the point.
11. Chanel: From the Latin canalis, meaning water channel, and tied forever to designer Coco Chanel. Fitting for a betta with polish.
12. Chica: Spanish for little girl, and a warm everyday endearment.
13. Chloe: Greek for blooming. Often given to spring babies. Federal birth records rank it #23 for 2025.
14. Cinderella: French in root, meaning little ashes, and borne by one of Disney’s best known princesses.
15. Cleo: Short for Cleopatra, which hands a small fish some royal nerve.
16. Colbie: A British name meaning from the coal town, made familiar by singer Colbie Caillat.
17. Cupcake: Sweet, silly, and entirely unserious. Good for a pink or pastel girl with a gentle streak.
18. Daisy: Old English for day’s eye, a flower long tied to purity.
19. Destiny: French and Latin in origin, pointing to the fate written for someone. It has fallen further than any other name here, down about 72 percent across the last ten years of births measured against the ten before them.
20. Devina: A Scottish name meaning beloved. Also read as divine. Rare enough that nobody else at the pet store will use it.
21. Diva: Latin for goddess, now shorthand for anyone who expects an audience. It suits a female who patrols her tank like she owns it.
22. Dory: Greek for gift from the sea, and the name of Pixar’s forgetful blue fish.
23. Elsa: A short form of Elisabeth carried by the ice queen in Frozen. Cold sounding, which is why it lands well on a pale blue girl.
24. Eurydice: Greek for wide justice. Straight out of myth. Long, elegant, and worth the syllables on a long finned female.
25. Eve: The first woman named in the Hebrew Bible, and the name means life. Three letters, easy to say at the glass.
26. Evelyn: A British name meaning wished for and desired. It ranked #8 in 2025 and is one of five names drawn on the chart above.
27. Felina: The feminine form of Felix. Latin for lucky and catlike. Lina does the work as a nickname.
28. Fifi: A French pet form of Josephine, meaning the Lord increases. American records have not listed it since 1974.
29. Flora: Latin for flower, and a quiet match for a pastel betta.
30. Fuego: Spanish for fire, built for a red or orange girl with a temper to match.
31. Gaia: Greek for the earth, and the mother goddess herself. Grounded, which is a funny thing to call a swimmer.
32. Geisha: Japanese for entertainer, historically a woman trained in song and theater.
33. Ginger: English for pure. Also the warm spice in the baking cupboard. Obvious for a copper girl, and none the worse for it.
34. Hera: Queen of the Olympian gods and goddess of marriage. She logged her best American rank yet in 2025.
35. Honey: English for nectar, back when a jar of it was worth guarding. Golden fish, golden name.
36. Iris: The Greek personification of the rainbow, so it belongs on a girl wearing several colors at once. Its highest U.S. rank on record came in 2025, at #61.
37. Kaida: Japanese for little dragon, which is about right for a fish with this much attitude.
38. Lang-Tai: Thai for female warrior, and a nod to the Southeast Asian waters this species comes from.
39. Lilith: Akkadian for belonging to the night. Also a figure in Jewish folklore. Perfect for a dark, unbothered female.
40. Lily: Latin for pure, taken from the flower that fills the Easter table. It held #18 in 2025 and appears on the comparison chart above.
41. Little Red: Out of the Little Red Riding Hood tales, and best saved for a deep red girl.
42. Lorelei: German for alluring, borne by the water nymphs of legend. Say it slowly and it sounds like water.
43. Lucy: Latin for light and light bringer, often short for Lucille. Charting since 1880, it now sits at #25, its best rank on record.
44. Luna: The Roman moon, and the dreamy student from Harry Potter. It ranked #27 in 2025 after peaking at #10 in 2022.
45. Mermaid: Half woman, half fish, and impossible to misunderstand. Too rare for the federal data to list.
46. Millie: Short for Millicent, German for gentle strength. First charted in 1880, and by 2025 it had climbed to #73, further than this quiet name has ever gone.
47. Mrs. Puff: SpongeBob’s long suffering boating teacher, and a gift of a name for a rounder female.
48. Nessie: The nickname of the Loch Ness monster. Also read as pure in Scottish use. She is the rarest name on this list that still charts at all, roughly one girl in 333,000 births in 2025.
49. Persephone: Greek, read as bringer of death, and a daughter of Zeus. Four syllables of drama for a fish you can hold in one hand.
50. Rainbow: A sign of covenant in the Bible, and an easy call for a multicolored girl.
51. Rosa: Spanish for rose, a flower that carries friendship and passion at once.
52. Ruby: Latin in root, a deep red gem and July’s birthstone. There is no better label for a red female.
53. Sage: Latin for wise. Once given to the village healer. Calm, short, and unisex.
54. Saraswati: Hindi for possessing water, which is hard to beat for a fish. American records last list it in 2017.
55. Sassy: English for fresh and bold, given to the snarky ones. It has not appeared in SSA data since 1997, so it belongs to pets now.
56. Scarlet: French and English for red. Carries both passion and power. The obvious pick for a crimson girl.
57. Sima: Hebrew for treasure. Quiet, short, and affectionate without being cute.
58. Siren: Greek in root, and the name of the singing nymphs of myth. It fits a female who draws every eye in the room.
59. Sirikit: A Thai name for a girl with queenly bearing, and another tie to the fish’s home waters.
60. Snow White: The raven haired princess of the fairy tale, ideal for a white or pale girl.
61. Sunny: Short for Sunshine. Given to the cheerful. Good for a yellow betta that greets you at the glass.
62. Sweetie: A softer form of Sweetheart, and a modern word for beloved. SSA records last list it in 2001.
63. Tilly: Short for Matilda, German for mighty in battle, and borne by William the Conqueror’s wife. Small name, large history.
64. Violetta: Italian for purple. The color of royalty. A violet or lavender female wears it well.
65. Vivi: Short for Vivian, Latin for alive and lively. Two syllables that bounce.
66. Wanda: Slavic for shepherdess and wanderer, so it suits an explorer. It reached #47 with American parents in 1934 and has slipped to #6,096 by 2025.
67. Yami: An Indian name traditionally used for a sister in law or a noblewoman.
68. Yoshe: Japanese for beauty, which is presumably why you chose this fish.
69. Zelda: German for gray fighting maid. Most people hear the video game first. Fierce and playful at once.
70. Zoe: The Greek counterpart to Eve, meaning life. Short, bright, and never confusing at the tank.

70 Handsome Male Betta Fish Names

These dashing male betta fish names are fit for the king of the tank.

1. Abott: English for father, and often used for a priest. Formal enough to be funny on a fish.
2. Ace: Latin for one and leader. Also the best card in the deck. Federal birth records rank it #164 for 2025.
3. Admiral: British and Arabic in root, meaning commander of the seas. Big talk for a five gallon tank, which is the joke.
4. Apollo: Greek, read as destroyer, though the god himself dealt in healing.
5. Aquaman: DC’s underwater hero, played on screen by Jason Momoa. Nobody will ask what you meant.
6. Archer: A French and English occupational surname for a skilled bowman. Ranked #98 in the 2025 SSA data, its best showing since debuting in 1880.
7. Asher: Hebrew for happy. One of the biblical picks here. It sat at #28 in 2025.
8. Astor: Scandinavian for hawk and thunder god, with a nod toward Thor.
9. Attila: Hungarian for like his father. It suits a male who defends his half of the tank without being asked.
10. Austen: A spelling of Austin, from a Latin root meaning great and magnificent.
11. Billy: German for will helmet and the everyday form of William. It was a top 20 American name in 1931 and ranks #1,068 today.
12. Blue Fish: Straight from Dr. Seuss, and the obvious call for a blue male. Readers will get it instantly.
13. Bodhi: Sanskrit for enlightenment and awakening. Named after the Buddha. Calm name, calm fish, in theory.
14. Bono: From the Italian bonus, meaning good, and carried by the singer and activist.
15. Bruce: A Scottish, English, and French surname meaning the willowlands. It peaked with American parents at #25 in 1952.
16. Buddha: Sanskrit for awakened, borne by the founder of Buddhism. It turned up in SSA records for the first time in 2025.
17. Captain Hook: Peter Pan’s pirate nemesis. Crocodile and all. Long, but fun to announce at feeding time.
18. Charlie: Short for Charles, German for free man. Still a busy name in America, at #145 in 2025.
19. Christian: Latin for follower of Christ, shortened to Chris by everybody eventually.
20. Cosmo: A Greek name covering order, chaos, and beauty, which is a lot for one fish to carry.
21. Costello: An Irish surname once given to someone who resembled a deer, and worn today by singer Elvis Costello.
22. Darth: German in root, meaning dark and father, and pure Star Wars. American records stop listing it after 1979.
23. DaVinci: Italian for of Vinci. Named after Leonardo. A grand label for a fish that lives in your kitchen.
24. Dino: Italian for little sword and brave as a bear, though every child hears dinosaur.
25. Draco: From drakon, Greek for dragon, and a Harry Potter villain besides.
26. Einstein: German for to cover with stone, and shorthand for genius since Albert. It shows up in U.S. data for a single year, 2006.
27. Elvis: Old Norse for all wise, though the king of rock owns the sound of it now.
28. Flipper: The limb that lets a whale steer and glide. Playful on a male carrying oversized fins.
29. Fox: An animal name for the sly and the quick. Short, sharp, and it never sounds silly.
30. Gandalf: Tolkien invented it for The Lord of the Rings, and American records show it exactly once, in 1970.
31. Guido: Italian for guide, and a cheerful way to fly the flag.
32. Harry: Short for Harold or Henry, German for home ruler, and carried by singer Harry Styles.
33. Henry: French in root, meaning home ruler. First charted in 1880, Henry has never ranked higher than it does now. At #5 in 2025, it is one of the five names on the chart above.
34. Houdini: After the Hungarian American escape artist. Save it for the male who is always somewhere behind the plants.
35. Ignacio: Spanish for fiery one, made for a red hot male.
36. Jaws: The shark from the 1970s film, which is very funny on something this small.
37. Jonah: The man swallowed by a great fish in the Hebrew Bible, and the name means dove. Hard to beat for an aquarium.
38. Kenny: Short for Kenneth, a Gaelic name meaning the handsome one.
39. Kraken: The sea monster of European legend. Absurd on a fish you can hold in one hand. That is the appeal.
40. Kujo: Japanese for ninth street, and it shortens neatly to Jojo.
41. Larry: A form of Lawrence, English for crowned with laurel. It was a U.S. top 10 name in 1947 and has settled at #1,085.
42. Leo: Short for Leonardo, Latin for lion, and worn by actor Leo DiCaprio. It held #19 in 2025.
43. Leviathan: The Hebrew name for a sea monster, from a root meaning to twist or to coil. Four syllables of pure menace.
44. Louie: German in root, short for Louis. Meaning famous warrior. Friendly, and it never sounds pompous.
45. Marlin: The big billfish that anglers chase, so there is some fight built into it.
46. Maui: Hawaiian for trickster god, and the demigod from Disney’s Moana.
47. Miles: A medieval name for a soldier of any kind. It ranked #44 in 2025, so plenty of boys share it with your fish.
48. Milo: A form of Miles, Latin and Slavic for soldier or beloved. Round and easy in the mouth.
49. Morgan: Welsh for sea born and sea song, which is nearly too good a fit here.
50. Naruto: From the Japanese manga about a boy determined to lead his people. U.S. records last list it in 2023.
51. Nemo: Latin for nobody. Also the most famous clownfish there is. American records stop at 2021.
52. Neptune: From Neptunus, the Roman god of water. Grand, watery, and it shortens to Nep.
53. Nile: A variation of Neil, and also Africa’s longest river, the one that feeds the crops along it.
54. Noah: The ark builder of the Hebrew Bible, known for doing exactly as he was told. It is the highest ranked name on this entire list, sitting at #2 in 2025.
55. Oceanus: Greek for of the ocean, a name that first appeared in American birth records in 2024.
56. Orlando: The Spanish form of Roland, meaning famous land, and carried by actor Orlando Bloom.
57. Otto: German for wealth, and the biggest comeback on this list. It peaked in 1913 and is back at #277 in 2025.
58. Phorcys: A sea god of Greek legend, credited with command of the water. Unusual enough to earn a second look.
59. Poseidon: Greek for lord of the earth, though the sea is what he is remembered for.
60. Red Fish: From Dr. Seuss’s One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Obvious, and that is exactly the charm.
61. Rocky: English for rest. It also points at rough, unsteady ground. Nobody hears either one; they hear the boxer.
62. Sergeant: French for officer, with the whole parade ground behind it.
63. Shark: After the ocean’s most feared fish, which is why it is funny on a betta.
64. Smith: A British surname for the village blacksmith, and about as plain as a name gets.
65. Theo: Greek for God’s gift, usually short for Theodore.
66. Thor: Norse for thunder, and Marvel’s hammer swinging hero. One syllable, plenty of weight.
67. Tigre: Italian and Spanish for tiger. A striped or short tempered male wears it naturally.
68. Titan: An English word for someone carrying both brains and brawn. Ironic here, and no less satisfying for it.
69. Willy: Short for William. German for helmet of protection. Old fashioned in the best way.
70. Zeke: A shorter, sharper Ezekiel, Hebrew for strength of God.

70 Cool Betta Fish Names

These stellar betta fish names are cooler than a cucumber.

1. Atlantis: Greek for island of Atlas, the empire that supposedly sank. Fitting for a fish whose whole world is underwater.
2. Avalon: Celtic for island of apples, first named in the Arthurian legends.
3. Azalea: A Greek name meaning dry, after the flowering shrub. First charted in 1902, it has never ranked better than #278, its 2025 spot.
4. Azure: French for sky blue. Also the plainest possible choice for a blue betta. Sometimes plain is right.
5. Bermuda: A cluster of islands, and a style of long shorts. Breezy either way.
6. Blanco: Spanish for bright white. Honest on a white fish and funny on a black one.
7. Blossom: A young flower, and a funny member of the Powerpuff Girls.
8. Bluey: Disney’s friendly blue heeler, and a soft pick for a blue male.
9. Brite: Swedish for strong. Also a respelling of bright. It works on a fish that catches the tank light.
10. Casper: Persian for treasure bearer, though the friendly ghost got there first. A pale, translucent betta suits it best.
11. Cerulean: Latin for dark blue, and the right label for a navy fish. A newcomer to the SSA data since 2017, it now sits at #9,063.
12. Chardonnay: French for thistle covered place, now shorthand for the wine. American records last list it in 2018.
13. Cyan: An American color name for light blue green, familiar from every Crayola box.
14. Dee: Welsh for dark. Also short for Deanne or Deidre. One syllable, no fuss.
15. Diesel: A form of Matthias that nobody on earth hears as anything but fuel.
16. Doll: Short for Dorothy, Greek for gift of God, and an endearment in its own right.
17. Earl Grey: England’s favorite tea, shrunk into a name. Among the funniest picks on this page.
18. Flash: One of DC’s oldest heroes, or simply a fast swimmer. Either reading fits a betta that bolts across the glass.
19. Flounder: The yellow and blue fish from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and a natural for a yellow male.
20. Godiva: Old English for God’s gift, though the chocolate box owns the word now.
21. Goliath: The biblical giant, from a Hebrew root meaning exile. Deliberately oversized for a small fish.
22. Grouper: Any of the heavy fish that hold near the bottom of an ocean or lake. A dry joke on a betta that hovers.
23. Gumbo: A West African word for okra, and the Louisiana stew built around it.
24. Indie: Short for Indigo, a royal shade of blue, and also a nickname for Independence. It ranked #634 in 2025.
25. Jag: A clipped form of Jacob or Jagger, meaning carter in English. It sounds as quick as the fish moves.
26. Kibble: From Kibbel, a German surname for a maker of drinking vessels. It also happens to sound like dinner.
27. Killer: A name for something mighty, or a running joke on something very small. Your fish, your call.
28. Lee: English for meadow, used as both a surname and a first name.
29. Limon: Spanish for lemon, a fit for a yellow betta with a sour streak.
30. Mandarin: A sweet orange, and the dialect spoken across much of China. Two good reasons to use it.
31. Mekong: After the river that runs through Southeast Asia, the part of the world this species calls home.
32. Midnight: The first minute of a new day, and the obvious pick for a black fish.
33. Miso: A gentle variation of Michael, Hebrew for who is like God. Warm, short, and a little salty.
34. Misty: English for mist and light fog. It was a top 40 American name in 1977 and now sits at #4,140.
35. Mojo: From the Creole moco, meaning magic and the power to get things done.
36. Naga: Sanskrit for snake, a figure that turns up across folklore and song alike.
37. Nami: Japanese for wave, and Sanskrit for of great repute. Charting since 1983, it now stands at #1,404, its strongest showing yet.
38. Noir: French for black, and the right word for a dark, unreadable fish.
39. Nuk Soo: A Thai name given to warriors and sumo wrestlers, so it carries some bulk.
40. Onyx: Latin and Greek in root, a black gemstone once said to be the fingernails of the gods. It is the fastest riser on this list, up about 926 percent across the last ten years of births measured against the ten before them.
41. Pal: An old, plain word for a friend, and one of the most used pet names going. Its best showing in the federal data came in 2024.
42. Peanut: A savory nut, and a standing nickname for anything small and beloved.
43. Pearly: Anything with a pearl’s sheen, and a vintage nickname besides. Save it for an iridescent fish.
44. PeeWee: Reserved for the runt of the litter, which suits a small or young betta.
45. Phantom: Another word for a ghost or a spirit. Good for a pale fish that spends its day hiding.
46. Pinky: A nickname for Pink, and also your smallest finger. Twice as apt on a small pink female.
47. Plakat: Thai for the betta fish itself, so this is the fish’s own name handed back to it.
48. Rama: An Indian name meaning pleasing and charming, and another name for Vishnu.
49. Raphael: Hebrew for God has healed, and one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Charting since 1882, it lands at #394 in 2025, its best rank on record.
50. Raven: A black bird, and an English surname once given to dark haired families. It ranked #404 in 2025.
51. Rebel: A respelling of Rebelle, a French name for someone who never respected authority.
52. Romeo: Italian and Latin for pilgrim to Rome. It held #302 in 2025, so it is romantic without being rare.
53. Rouge: French for red, borrowed long ago by the makeup counter.
54. Sal: An Indian name meaning saint, master, and lord. Three letters, no nonsense.
55. Samurai: Japanese for knight and warrior, and a title people fought to earn.
56. Sapphire: Latin for blue, a color name with polish. It ranked #1,058 in 2025.
57. Skittles: The candy, and the obvious pick for a fish wearing several colors at once.
58. Small Fry: A nickname for the littlest of anything, and affectionate rather than rude.
59. Smokey: English for smoke colored, after the cartoon bear who wanted your campfire out.
60. Sparky: English and Norse for lively and high spirited. It belongs on a fish that never settles.
61. Star: A light in the night sky, or a person famous enough to be called one.
62. Stormy: English for storm and tempest. The honest choice for a moody male.
63. Suki: Japanese for beloved, and a form of Susan besides.
64. Sumo: After the Japanese wrestling style built around size, which is the whole joke on a small fish.
65. Sunshine: Warm daylight, and the word for a person who behaves like it.
66. Sushi: Japanese for sour rice. Cheeky on a fish, and it gets a laugh every time.
67. Taffy: Welsh for beloved and friend, and also a sticky pulled candy.
68. Tilson: English for son of Till, one of the patronymic picks on this page.
69. Tuna: The saltwater fish that ends up in sandwiches. Bold move, naming your pet after lunch.
70. Valhalla: Norse for hall of the fallen, and a fixture of mythology.

Betta Fish Names By Color

Many owners choose names based on their fish’s brilliant scales. Here are some favorites categorized by color.

Blue Betta Fish Names

• Azure: A classic shade of sky blue.
• Cobalt: For the fish with a deep, metallic blue hue.
• Denim: A rugged name for a cool blue swimmer.
• Indigo: Perfect for a fish that sits between blue and purple.
• Royal: Because your betta acts like the king of the tank.
• Sky: Simple, sweet, and evocative of the open air.
• Sonic: Inspired by the fastest blue hedgehog in gaming history.

Red Betta Fish Names

• Cherry: A sweet pick for a bright red female.
• Crimson: Points to a deep, rich shade of red.
• Elmo: The beloved red monster from Sesame Street.
• Flame: For the betta who darts around like a flicker of fire.
• Mars: Named after the Red Planet.
• Rose: A classic floral name for a beautiful red fish.
• Rusty: A great unisex name for an orange-red betta.

Betta Fish Names FAQs