[Updated for 2022]

Betta Fish Names By Color and Personality

If you need a name for your male betta or female betta fish, this article will help you pick the best name, or at least provide you with some inspiration.

Choosing the perfect name can be tricky because betta fish have their own unique personalities and colors.

The best way to pick a name for your betta fish is to observe your fish and decide whether he or she is a bloodthirsty warrior, a shy and gentle nonbelligerent, a happy-go-lucky optimist, or something else entirely.

Then, based on the color of your betta fish, choose a name that best fits its personality.

Below you will find betta fish names categorized by color, personality, theme, types of betta, and even funny betta fish names.

If you are a new betta fish owner, or plan to get one soon, check out my article on what betta fish need and make sure you have everything you need to care for these amazing fish.

Alright, back to naming your betta.

Red Betta Fish Names

Red betta fish are stunning because their crimson color is often accompanied by a fiery personality. Whether you have a male red betta or a female red betta, check out my list of unique red betta fish names below:

Aka (means red in Japanese)
Amber
Apple
Ariel
Auburn
Autumn
Beets
Berry
Blaze
Blush
Bordeaux
Brandy
Brick
Burgundy
Candy Cane
Cardinal
Carrot
Cayenne
Pimento
Cherry
Chestnut
Cheyenne
Clifford
Chili
Cinnamon
Copper
Cranberry
Crimson
Currant
Curry
Elmo
Ellie
Ember
Eric
Fiona
Flame
Flann
Flamingo
Foxy
Frizzle
Furnace
Garnet
Gilroy
Ginger
Glow
Harkin
Harry
Hazel
Hong (means red in Chinese)
Hydrant
Jam
Jelly Bean
Jess
Ketchup
Kimchi
Lady Bug
Lobster
Lucy
Mahogany
Mars
Merida
Merlot
Pansy
Paprika
Penny
Peppermint
Pepperoni
Peter
Phoenix
Poppy
Phineas
Radish
Raspberry
Reddy
Rhubarb
Rogan
Rojo (means red in Spanish)
Rose
Rosie
Rosso (means red in Italian)
Rouge (means red in French)
Rover
Rowan
Ruby
Russell
Rusty
Saffron
Sandy
Sangria
Scarlet
Sienna
Skelton
Solo
Spark
Strawberry
Sumac
Sunset
Suri
Thor
Tiger
Tomato
Tulip
Twizzler
Vine
Wilma

Blue Betta Fish Names

Bue betta fish have a regal look. Consider the unique betta names listed below for betta fish that have a majestic personality.

Admiral
Aegean
Annette
Aqua
Arctic
Ashe
Azura
Azure
Beryl
Blau (German for blue)
Blue
Blueberry
Cerulean
Cobalt
Dedue
Denim
Dimitri
Felix
Indigo
Ingrid
Lapis
Lapras
Mercedes
Navy
Ocean
Poliwag
Peacock
River
Sapphire
Sky
Slate
Sobble
Squirtle
Stone
Sylvain
Yale

Blue Green Betta Fish Names

Avocado
Basil
Chartreuse
Crocodile
Emerald
Fern
Goblin
Grookey
Hulk
Juniper
Leaf
Lime
Marine
Matcha
Mint
Moss
Olive
Parakeet
Pear
Pickle
Pine
Pistachio
Sage
Sea Foam
Seaweed
Shamrock
Shrek
Teal
Veggie
Verdant

Gray and Blue Betta Fish Names

Ash
Brand
Cinder
Coal
Coke
Foggy
Fuzzy
Gandalf
Grigio: means “gray” in Italian.
Gris: means “gray” in French.
Haiiro: means “gray” in Japanese.
Haze
Myst
Reardon
Shade
Slate
Smokey
Stoke
Sully

Pale, Silver, and White Betta Names

Ansel
Argent: means “silver” in French.
Banshee
Bijou
Bullet
Gin: means “silver” in Japanese.
Gleam
Glimmer
Glitter
Kesef: “silver” in Hebrew.
Mint
Nickel
Phantom
Plata: means “silver” with Spanish.
Scratch
Shade
Shadow
Silber: means “silver” in German,
Sheen
Shimmer
Shine
Specter
Steel
Sterling
Tinsel
Umbra
Vanilla
Wisp
Wraith

Orange Betta Fish Names

Alani
Amarillo
Amber
Apple
Apricot
Aslan
Auburn
Autumn
Bittersweet
Blaze
Brass
Butterbean
Buttercup
Butterscotch
Cantaloupe
Carmello
Carrots
Cayenne
Charmander
Cheddar
Cheetah
Cheeto
Cherry
Cheyenne
Chianti
Chili
Chester
Chilie
Chip
Chrysanthemum
Cinnamon
Citrus
Colby
Copper
Coral
Creamsickle
Crimson
Cuervo
Curry
Curtis
Dana Scully
Dandelion
Dandy Lion
Dempsey
Dorito
Dundee
Ferris
Flame
Flanigan
Flynn
Forsythia
Frazier
Furgus
Gala
Garfield
Gild
Gina
Ginger
Goldie
Heinz
Julius
Keegan
Kyo
Loki
Lucy
Maizy Mango
Mango
Maple
Marmalade
Maxie
Meg
Merlot
Muffin
Nacho
Noodles
Nubit
Nutmeg
Ochre
Opi
Opie
Opus
Orange
Oscar
Paprika
Peaches
Peanut Butter
Pekoe
Penny
Pepsi
Poppy
Pooh
Harry
Puff
Pumpkin
Pumpkin Head
Red
Rory
Rose
Rudy
Russet
Rusty
Saffron
Salmon
Sandy
Scarlet
Scarlett
Sherbert
Sinbad
Sooner
Succotash
Sunbeam
Sunflower
Sunkiss
Sunkist
Sunny
Sunshine
Synominn
Tabasco
Tang
Tangerine
Tare
Tiger Lily
Tigger
Tigress
Titian
Treasure
Tulip
Twany
Tweetie
Tweets
Vincent
Winnie

Yellow Betta Fish Names

Butter
Butterball
Buttercup
Biscuit
Butterscotch
Buffy
Cabby
Chalk
Cheesecake
Chamois
Claude
Corona
Cookie
Creamer
Crackers
Custard
Dandelion
Dandy Lion
Dew
Flaxen
Karo
Giallo
Gold
Golden
Highlighter
Hilda
Ignatz
Latte
Lemon
Leonie
Lorenz
Lysithea
Marianne
Marzipan
Mellow
Milkshake
Mustard
Nilla
Noodle
Omlet
Pikachu
Popcorn
Raphael
Sparkle
Sun
Sunflower
Sunny
Sunshine
Taffy
Taxi
Tapioca
Tequila
Toffi
Vanilla
Waffle
Yeller
Yellow

Black Betta Fish Names

Ace
Angus
Ashes
Atticus
Anisette.
Blackie
Bear
Bernadetta
Blake
Blackjack
Bogie
Caspar
Cave
Cesare
Charcoal
Cheyenne
Chocolate Chip
Cinderella
Coal
Coffee
Colbie
Crow
Darth Vader
Dragon
Daegan Kai
Dante
Dorothea
Draakar Noir
Dugan
Duncan
Ebony
Edelgard
Elvira
Espresso
Eclipse
Ferdinand
Flint
Forest
Gabe
Guiness
Hades
Hubert
Ink
Inky
Indigo
Ivory
Jacket
Jamaica
Jett
Jaguar
Johnny Cash
Kieran Mael
Kodiak
Kole
Kuro
Lelia
Licorice
Linhardt
Mamba
Matches
Maverick
Metal
Midnight
Misty
Morticia
Musqua
Ninjia
Nuit
Obsidian
Oil
Onyx
Panther
Pearl
Pepper
Pepsi
Petra
Phantom
Pitch
Prieta
Phantom
Poppy
Raven
Retread
Rasputin
Rubber
Sable
Sabbath
Salem
Sammy
Satchmo
Sheba
Shadow
Shady
Sharpie
Singularity
Sky
Skye
Soot
Sooty
Spider
Spooky
Skylar
Spade
Tar
Tarra
Tank
Trilby
Talladega
Tina
Vadar

Purple Betta Fish Names

Amethyst
Beet
Berry
Boysenberry
Ditto
Eggplant
Ekans
Grape
Heather
Indigo
Iris
Jam
Lavender
Lilac
Magenta
Mauve
Mewtwo
Mulberry
Orchid
Periwinkle
Plum
Purples
Raisin
Sangria
Starmie
Thanos
Violet
Wine

Koi and Galaxy Betta Names (Rainbow colored betta fish)

Allure
Blender
Calico
Camo
Charm
Checker
Chromatic
Dapple
Dapper
Enfys (means rainbow in Welsh)
Flash
Fleck
Florid
Jazz
Jazzy
Kaleidoscope
Koi Koi
Lucky
Marble
Mingle
Mix
Motley
Mottle
Multi
Niji (means rainbow in Japanese)
Opal
Pied
Pinto
Poly
Prism
Rainbow
Skittles
Speckle
Spectrum
Splash
Spot
Sprinkles
Starburst
Streak
Versi

Pink Betta Fish Names

Blush
Bubblegum
Coral
Flamingo
Fuchsia
Lemonade
Magenta
Peach
Pinky
Punch
Rose
Rosewood
Rouge
Salmon
Slipper
Strawberry
Taffy
Watermelon

Dumbo Betta Fish Names

Babar
Benjamin
CJ
Donphan
Dumbo
Ears
Elmer
Emily
Hathi
Horton
Jumbo
King
Manny
Max
Meena
Mirabelle
Nangi
Nelson
Oliphant
Rolo
Shep
Sniff
Snorky
Snout
Snuffleupagus
Tantor
Taj
Tika
Woolie
Zunesha

King Betta Fish Names

Akbar
Alexander
Augustus
Caligula
Charlemagne
Cyrus
Frederick
Godzilla
Henry VIII
Julius
Kingdra
Kingler
Kingly
King Tut
Kublai Khan
Leonidus
Leopold
Marcus
Napoleon
Nero
Richard III
Solomon
Tiberius
Titus
Vespasian
Vlad
William
Xerxes

Dragon Betta Fish Names (Dragon Scale Betta)

These betta fish names are based on mythological dragons and dragon-like creatures (cool names for dragon scale betta fish and crowntail bettas):

Aura
Bahamut
Balerion
Blau
Celes
Drake
Draco
Drago
Dragonite
Dreamfyre
Drogon
Fafnir
Falkor
Genryu
Hydra
Jormangandr
Kirin
Kukulkan
Leviathan
Malchior
Meraxes
Mizuki
Mushu
Nidhogg
Orochi
Saphira
Shenron
Sunfyre
Smaug
Smirkenorff
Tiamat
Viserion
Wyvern

Japanese Names for Betta Fish (in Romanji)

Suisei (Mercury)
Kinsei (Venus)
Chikyuu (Earth)
Kasei (Mars)
Mokusei (Jupiter)
Dosei (Saturn)
Tenousei (Uranus)
Kaiousei (Neptune) Meiousei (Pluto)

Cool Betta Names for a Defensive Fish

Alloy
Chromium
Diamond
Golem
Graveler
Indium
Iridium
Metapod
Paladin
Palladium
Panzer
Pillar
Remoraid
Steelix
Scales
Shield
Silver
Tank
Titanium
Tower
Tungsten
Turret

Aggressive Betta Fish Names

Barb
Brinks
Bully
Dexter
Dynamo
Forceful
Force
Hannibal
Hostile
Hawk
Hurricane
Hyde
Jekyll
Killer
Nipper
Nips
Maverick
Martial
Pushy
Pug
Perky
Quarrel
Rocky
Roundy
Ruthless
Scrapper
Scrappy
Slash
Snap
Snarky
Snipper
Snippy
Spunky
Terminator
Thunder
Intruder
Truck
Tuffy
Vade
Vader
Warrior
War

Funny Betta Fish Names

Algae
Alpha
Angel
Atlantic
Atlantis
Bait
BigFish
Bubbles
Bubbly
Calypso
Fin
Finley
Fish
Fish N’ Chips
Fishy
Flash
Flip
Flotsam
General Finn
Goldie
Hydra
Jaques Cousteau
Jetsam
Jonah
Kraken
Mahi Mahi
M&M
Mr. Bubbles
Mr. Krabs
Mr. Nibbles
Pacific
Sushi
Swim Shady
Tetra
Walleye

Funny Fish Name for Betta Male

Mr. Bean
Dr. Jones
Eeyore
Chappelle
Pickle
Pikachu
Scar Face
Rambo
Luigi
Aquaman
Cloud Strife
Sephiroth
Pied Piper
Chewy
Nintendo
Popeye
Rick
Morty
Bojangles
Nemo
Water Boy
Oddish
Carrot
Dilbert
Garfield
Otis
Magikarp
Pewdiepie

Funny Fish Name for Betta Female

The list of names below is for betta fish female names that make you smile, but what people find funny will differ so don’t judge me too much for this selection:

Aerith
Amy Schumer
Bikini
Boss Lady
Butterfly
Cardi B.
Flip Flop
Gamora
Jellybean
Jigglypuff
Latte
Marie Kondo
Mean Girl
Mermaid
Misty
Ms. Marbles
Ms. Piggy
Pepper
Popcorn
Princess
Queen B
Starbuck
Tay Swift
Tomato
Yuffie
Zelda

Moon Related Betta Fish Names

Anumati: Meaning “divine favor,” Anumati is the Hindu deity of the moon.
Artemis: Greek goddess of hunting and associated with the moon
Bendis: In Thracian mythology, Bendis is the goddess of the hunt and the moon.
Elatha: Elatha is the Irish god of the moon.
Jarilo: A shapeshifting Slavic god associated with the moon, springtime, and fertility.
Kaskuh: In Hittite mythology, a moon deity.
Luna: Roman goddess associated with the moon.
Selene: In Greek mythology, Selene is the goddess associated with the moon.
Meness: In Latvian mythology, Meness is a moon deity.
Napir: In Elamite mythology, Napir is a moon deity.
Nyx: In Greek mythology, Nyx is the goddess of the night.
Rathi: Indonesian goddess of the moon.
Trivia: Roman goddess associated with graveyards and crossroads.
Wu Gang: Wu Gang is the Chinese version of Sisyphus and is depicted as endlessly cutting down the self-healing osmanthus tree on the moon. His name is associated with endless toil.

Nature Related Betta Fish Names

Alfalfa
Ash
Aspen
Aster
Autumn
Barley
Bean
Berry
Birch
Blossom
Breeze
Breezy
Briar
Brook
Buttercup
Butternut
Cedar
Cherry
Chili
Cinnamon
Clementine
Cliff
Clover
Copper
Cricket
Cypress
Daffodil
Dahlia
Daisy
Dahlia
Dandelion
Dawn
Diamanda
Dusty
Ebony
Echo
Eden
Fern
Fig
Fjord
Flash
Flint
Freesia
Forest
Foxy
Gaia
Garnet
Gem
Gemma
Genesis
Ginger
Goji
Gold
Gypsy
Harmony
Heather
Herb
Holly
Honey
Honeysuckle
Huckleberry
Hyancinth
Indigo
Iris
Ivory
Ivy
Jacinto
Jade
Jasmine
Jemima
Jewel
Jewels
Jordan
Jupiter
Kai
Kiwi
Kyle
Kylee
Lark
Laurel
Lilac
Lily
Lilybeth
Luna
Magnolia
Magpie
Mango
Maple
Marigold
Marina
Mercury
Midnight
Mist
Misty
Naia
North
Nutmeg
Oakley
Olive
Opal
Orchid
Orion
Pea
Peanut
Pearl
Peony
Pepper
Petunia
Phoenix
Pluto
Poppy
Pumpkin
Rain
Reed
Ridge
Rio
Rock
Rocky
Rose
Rosemary
Ruby
Sage
Sandy
Savannah
Sienna
Sierra
Sky
Skylar
Smoke
Smokey
Sprout
Star
Stone
Storm
Stormy
Summer
Sunny
Sweetpea
Tansy
Thunder
Topaz
Tulip
Venus
Violet
Wasabi
West
Willow
Wind
Woody
Zeva
Zoey
Zofie

Gemstone Betta Fish Names

Amber
Amethyst
Beryl
Citrine
Coral
Crystal
Diamond
Emerald
Garnet
Gem
Jade
Jasper
Jet
Jewel
Lapis
Onyx
Opal
Pearl
Quartz
Ruby
Sapphire
Topaz

Why Are Fighting Fish Called Bettas?

What we in America call the Siamese fighting fish, fighting fish, or just betta, is scientifically named the Betta splendens.

But calling Betta splendens a “betta” overlooks the fact that over 70 species of betta fish exist. Most of these wild type bettas show little of the color or aggression that Betta splendens is famous for, but they too are “bettas.”

Back in 1849, Dr. Theodore Edward Cantor bestowed the Latin name, Macropodus pugnax on an aggressive fish with sizable pelvic fins. Around 1897, this aggressive fish was reclassified into the genus Betta and became Betta pugnax.

In 1909, the fish was renamed, “Betta splendens” because another species of Betta already possessed the name “Betta pugnax.”

While accounts differ on how the genus name “betta” came about, many believe that it derives from a Malay term for a local warrior tribe.

“Splendens” is a Latin word meaning bright, brilliant, or shining, which seems fitting for a fish with vivid colors.

While the scientific genus name Betta has become a common name for these fish, bettas are also referred to as “Siamese fighting fish,” and I have even seen them referred to as “Chinese fighting fish” and “Japanese fighting fish.”

Bettas are called “Siamese fighting fish” because betta fish were originally bred in Siam (Thailand) for fighting.

The owners of these betta fish would place bets on their fish and place two males together in a small bowl.

The owner of the winning fish would receive not only money, but prestige in his community as a prize fish breeder.

These betta fish fights became popular on a national scale, and breeders began strategically selecting for traits like strength and aggression.

While many betta fish males were killed or died from injury, breeders of Siamese fighting fish would try to remove the losing betta before it was mortally injured so that the fish could recover and fight another day.

When betta fish were introduced to Europe, color, instead of aggression, was the focus of breeding programs, and that is where the modern betta, we know and love, came from.

Conclusion

My list of betta fish names could go on and on, and will be updated periodically, but, for now, I hope it inspired you to pick a name for your betta fish.

For those who are choosing between a male and a female betta fish, check out my article on female vs male betta fish to learn about which fish may be better for you to keep.

If you want to learn more about betta fish in general, check out my article on betta fish care, and if you want your betta to live in a planted tank, check out my articles on the best plants for betta fish and planted nano tanks.

If you plan to create a community tank or need ideas for which fish to keep, check out my articles on 12 of the easiest fish to keep in your aquarium and the best fish for a 10 gallon tank.

As always, stay zen aquarists.