150+ Goldfish Names: Ideas for Unique, Cute & Funny Fish

Congratulations on getting a new finned friend! You have now entered the “honeymoon stage” of your goldfish relationship and are probably gazing in adoration at your new pet.

But there is probably a question weighing on your mind. “What do I name my goldfish?” A frantic internet search has likely landed you on this page, and you won’t be disappointed. You’ll find everything from funny to clever to downright perfect names.

Whether you’re looking for punny, creative, or famous fish names, you’re guaranteed to find precisely what you’re looking for. So, let the games begin!

Most Popular Names for Goldfish

• Bubbles: A good one-size-fits-all
• Comet: Quite fitting for the slim-bodied types
• Flash: A great orange fish name
• Fish: You would be surprised how many people choose this one
• 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
• 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 create the perfect fit. One thing to remember: 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

If you're new to the world of goldfish or are an experienced goldfish keeper that loves to learn more, we recommend you check out our best-selling book, The Truth About Goldfish, on Amazon.

From diagnosing illnesses and providing correct treatments to ensuring your goldies are happy with their setup and your maintenance, this book brings our blog to life in color and will help you to be the best goldfishkeeper you can be. 

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
• Hershey
• 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. 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 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
• 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. It’s all so new and exciting, but there’s something you should be aware of before you go. Goldfish keeping is more complex than it looks. You must ensure your friend lives a full, happy life by understanding what it takes to be successful. It’s all in this book, The Truth About Goldfish. You can be sure you’re off to the best start with all the answers at your fingertips. Check it out!

Final Tips

Names identify your fish. They separate one fish from the next, often goldfish that look very similar. Slight variances in their scales might convince you to choose a yellow fish name or something suitable for an orange fish.  When naming your goldfish, you have one opportunity to come up with the perfect name. Goldfish can live for over 40 years, and they might be stuck with it for a long time!

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 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 versus 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.

Suggestion #3: Name Your Goldfish After Someone. The name of a favorite literary 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 an excellent opportunity to choose a punny fish name.

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. Unique patterns and coloring can often bring the perfect name for your fish to mind. Does your fish swim a little differently than the others? Maybe his fin is an odd shape? The physical characteristics of your fish are often very helpful when coming up with a name.

What’s YOUR Goldfish’s Name?

By now, you should have some good ideas about what to call your fish. We hope you’ve enjoyed them. Now, we’re handing it off to you. What did you decide to name your goldfish? Or do you have a few favorites you can’t decide between?

Featured Image Credit: Ammit Jack, Shutterstock