Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

151 Fun Koi Fish Names for Every Color

Gregory Iacono

By Gregory Iacono

Hepper_koi fish Names Post

If you recently brought home one or several Koi, you already know these amazing pets are more like cats than fish. For that reason, and the fact that they can live for upwards of 50 years, many people name their Koi.

The good news is that you can name a Koi whatever you like. The bad news is that there are so many good names out there, and choosing one might be more difficult than you imagined. To help, we’ve compiled a list of 151 fun Koi fish names for all of the differently colored Koi you can imagine.

Names Based on Looks & Personality

Hepper_divider_fish_v1-2

 

The 151 Koi Fish Names

Koi Fish Names based on their Looks & Personality

Fun names for Koi fish can reflect their personality and physical attributes. The following names are based on the Koi’s personality and appearance.

JAPANESE KOI pixabay
Image Credit: Alexas_Fotos, Pixabay
  • Angel Baby
  • Ash
  • Big Boy
  • Big Girl
  • Blazing Saddle
  • Bubbles
  • Bomber
  • Brutus Beefcake
  • Casper the Ghost
  • Dot
  • Ducky
  • Duck Lips
  • Embers
  • Flash
  • Flashy Gordon
  • Flounder
  • Glitter
  • Gary Glitter
  • Glowy
  • Gohan (Japanese for “rice)
  • Goldilocks
  • Golden Bear
  • Haiku
  • Silver
  • Speckles
  • Torpedo
  • Willow
  • Zippy

Koi Fish Names based on their Color

Koi fish come in a rainbow of colors, and those colors can be the seed word you use to name them. One of the rarest is the Gold Koi, but there are many more, and many are multi-colored. These names are all based on the typical Koi colors.

koi fish swimming on water surface
Image Credit: Jerawat Supajirakit, Shutterstock
  • Aqua
  • Ash
  • Autumn
  • Beetroot
  • Blaze
  • Butterscotch
  • Caramel
  • Copper
  • Old Blue
  • Champagne
  • Cherry
  • Clementine
  • Crystal
  • Eclipse
  • Ember
  • Flame
  • Ginger
  • Goldie
  • Honey
  • Indigo
  • Koshi (“Green” in Japanese)
  • Lemon Meringue
  • Orange Crusher
  • Oreo
  • Onyx
  • Rusty
  • Shimmer
  • Sherbet
  • Silver Fox
  • Sunny
  • Sunshine

Fun Koi Fish Names from Fiction, History & Literature

It might not be easy to determine your Koi fish’s personality, at least for a while, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give them a name you think fits them well. One from literature, fiction, and history would be a fantastic choice! You can choose a name from your favorite book, TV program, or your #1 movie. There are so many to choose from that the list below could be much longer (but we’ve chosen the best for you).

orange and white koi fish in a pond
Image Credit: Vital Safo, Shutterstock
  • Ariel
  • Captain Morgan
  • Charlie Shine
  • Flipper
  • Flotsam
  • Flounder
  • Harley Finn
  • Horatio Hornblower
  • Jabberjaw
  • Jack Sparrow
  • Jetsam
  • Lady
  • Moby Dick
  • Pricklepants
  • Salmon Rushdie
  • Sebastian
  • Simba
  • Squirt
  • Stuart Little
  • The Sea Hag
  • Tramp
  • Nemo
  • Pip
  • Templeton

Silly Names for Koi Fish

OK, so let’s say you aren’t looking for a name that’s regal but one that is silly, funny, or just plain ridiculous. If that sounds appealing, the Koi names below will be ideal!

Koi Carp
Image Credit: Mikro Graul, Shutterstock
  • Beta Midler
  • Beta White
  • Clam Bake
  • Crusher
  • Fish-n-Chips
  • Fudgie the Whale
  • Gilligan
  • Lil’ Yachty
  • Loverboy
  • Marlin
  • Nibbles
  • Pop Tart
  • Small Fry
  • Sudsy
  • The Skipper
  • The Whale

Male Koi Fish Names

If the Koi you’ve adopted is a male, why not give it a distinctly male name? That way, everyone who comes to see your beautiful fish will know right away that they’re gazing upon a masculine Koi.

koi in a pond
Image Credit: jggrz, Pixabay
  • Aspen
  • Billy Bob
  • Bruce the Shark
  • Charlie Tuna
  • Chubby Checker
  • Darwin
  • Finn
  • Gregorio
  • Johan Gill
  • King Neptune
  • Oscar the Fish
  • Otto
  • Pops
  • River Streamics
  • Tony Stark

Female Koi Fish Names

A female Koi deserves a name that immediately identifies her as a member of the fairer fish. That’s important because, as we know, females are the matriarchs of every fish family. The fantastic female Koi fish names below will do them justice!

koi fish in pond
Image Credit: Vital safo, Shutterstock
  • Amber
  • Ayuka
  • Crimson
  • Dorothy Gale
  • Gilda Radfish
  • Gingersnap
  • Honeysuckle
  • Jewel
  • Minnie
  • Naomi
  • Peaches-n-Cream
  • Wanda Around
  • Winnie the Pooper
  • Sandy Beach
  • Sunshine

Koi Fish Names Based on Your Favorite Foods

This last category is ironic when you consider that Koi were raised as food for hundreds of years, not pets. Luckily these unique and adorable creatures were soon found to be wonderful pets and, today, are prized as such rather than as someone’s next meal. For an ironic and fun Koi fish name, the following foods are perfect!

koi fish
Image Credit: Pasko Maksim, Shutterstock
  • Bluefin
  • Catfish
  • Ceviche
  • Clammy Chowder
  • Crabby Patty
  • Crab Cake
  • Dipping Sauce
  • Fish-n-Chips
  • Fish Taco
  • King Crabby
  • Lobster Roll
  • Nigiri
  • Phish Stix
  • Plankton
  • Salmon Roll
  • Sashimi
  • Seaweed
  • Shrimpy Cocktail
  • Sushi
  • Taco Tuesday
  • Tamari
  • Tartar Sauce
  • Wasabi
gold koi swimming in the pond
Image Credit: Piqsels

How to Name a Koi Fish

Koi fish require super-clean water and nearly as much care as a cat without the requisite litter box. Before you start choosing a name for your Koi, think about this; they are large fish but gentle. They’re intelligent and, some say, even affectionate. Koi are also shaped like a torpedo and remember who their owners are. When choosing a name, consider all of these traits, and you’ll have a better chance of choosing one that’s a perfect match!

Hepper_divider_fish_v1-2

 

Final Thoughts

Finding the perfect name for your Koi fish should be fun for you and all the other members of your family. Remember, your Koi won’t mind whatever name you give it, but once you start using it, don’t change its name. That’s because, in time, most Koi fish will respond to their names. However, if you keep changing their name, they will likely become confused and not respond.

Whatever name you choose for your Koi fish, we hope our list has been helpful. Best of luck with your beautiful new Koi fish and finding them a fun, memorable name that fits them like a net!


Featured Image Credit: IamSuperPear, Shutterstock

Related Articles

Further Reading

Vet Articles

Latest Vet Answers

The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database