Betta fish stand out from other fish for their striking color combinations, flowing fins and their singular nature as "fighting fish." When choosing a name for your new Betta, you can find inspiration in lots of places that match who your fish is.
Choosing a Betta Fish Name
Betta fish names can be based on anything that you're passionate about, but if you're looking to pick out specific betta characteristics for inspiration, there are some key details to hone in on. Obviously they're beautiful and fancy fish with glamorous colors and fins. Even the females, while not as flashy as the males, are colorful particularly as more are being bred for these qualities. Bettas are also notoriously aggressive fish, hence their "Siamese Fighting Fish" name. This fierce side to their personality can be fodder for all sorts of names. You can also look for names from their countries of origin, which is primarily Thailand and Cambodia.
Warrior Names for Betta Fish
Since Bettas are known for their fierce reputation toward other fish, it's appropriate to name them after famous fighters and warrior terminology. These go particularly well with red or copper colored bettas and bettas with sleeker bodies like spade tails and plakats.
Male Warrior Names
- Leonidas (great warrior-king of Sparta)
- Hannibal (famous warrior from Roman days)
- Spartacus (famous gladiator and freedom fighter in Rome)
- Attila (as in the famous warrior Attila the Hun)
- Flamma (a famous Roman gladiator)
- Lu Bu (a famous warrior from Ancient China)
- Miyamoto (Musashi was a legendary samurai)
- Sun Tzu (famous military tactician who wrote The Art of War)
- Saladin (first Sultan of Egypt and renowned warrior)
- Ragnar (historical Viking warrior featured in Vikings television show)
Female Warrior Names
- Khutulun (a famous Mongolian warrior and princess)
- Zenobia (an ancient Syrian Queen and warrior)
- Artemis (a warrior queen in ancient Turkey, also the name of the Greek goddess of the hunt)
- Boudica (a Celtic warrior queen of the Iceni)
- Lozen (a Native American warrior known as the "Apache Joan of Arc")
- Triệu (a Vietnamese rebel known for wearing yellow robes on the battlefield - good name for a yellow betta!)
- Tomoe (Gozen, a famous female samurai, or onna-bugeisha)
- Joan (after Joan of Arc, the French warrior)
- Nakano (Takaeko, another famous female samurai)
- Njinga (Mbande, a famous African queen and warrior)
Royal Names for Betta Fish
Crown tail and half-sun bettas go well with names derived from royalty as their fins and tails form "crown-like" shapes. These names work well for any color betta, particularly gold shades like orange, yellow or pineapple and of course purple, the color of royalty.
- Baron/Baroness
- Czar/Czarina
- Duke/Duchess
- Emir/Emira
- Emperor/Empress
- Maharajah/Maharani
- Marquis/Marchioness
- Rana/Rani
- Shah/Shahbanu
- Sultan/Sultana
Thai and Cambodian Names for Betta Fish
Since bettas hail from Thailand and Cambodia, using names from their homeland are a fitting choice. These can be used for any type of betta fish or color pattern.
Male Names
- Apinya ("magical power" in Thai)
- Arthit ("man of the sun" in Thai)
- Chakrii ("king" in Thai)
- Chhay ("a handsome man" in Cambodian)
- Kosal ("magical" in Cambodian)
- Kraisee ("lion" in Thai)
- Meaker ("greatest" in Cambodian)
- Olan ("great" in Thai)
- Oudom ("magnificent" in Cambodian)
- Samnang ("good fortune" in Cambodian)
Female Names
- Anong ("a beautiful woman" in Thai)
- Arinya ("a beautiful, smart woman" in Thai)
- Buppha ("flower blossom" in Thai)
- Chanlina ("moonlight" in Cambodian)
- Darika ("star" in Thai)
- Jorani ("jewel" in Cambodian)
- Kaliyanei ("beautiful woman" in Cambodian)
- Malee ("flower" in Thai)
- Nearidei ("a white flower" in Cambodian)
- Ransei ("ray of light" in Cambodian)
Flamboyant Names for Betta Fish
With their dramatic fins and personalities, using names based on fashionable, glamourous or colorful characters such as found on the stage, at the opera or other entertainment. If you have a betta with particularly fabulous finns, such as the half moon and over-half moon, rosetail, feathertail or super delta, you might enjoy these names. These also work well for fish with multi-color patterns such as the butterfly, marble, or the bi- or multi- colored bettas.
Male Names
- Buffo (an opera singer who does comedic roles)
- Divo (the most important opera singer)
- Harlequin (a male traditional clown)
- Impressario (an opera director)
- Khon (a type of dance in Thailand performed by men in fancy costumes)
- Maestro (the conductor)
- Pra Ram or Rama (the main hero in a Thai classical dance)
- Soubrette (a light opera singer)
- Spinto (an opera singer with a dramatic voice)
- Zanni (a male clown)
Female Names
- Apsara (a female character in a traditional Cambodian dance with an elaborate headdress)
- Bantheong (the Thai "Happiness Dance" performed by women)
- Chhayam (a Cambodian folk dance featuring beautiful women)
- Columbina (the feminine version of the male Harlequin)
- Diva (the most important opera singer)
- Geisha (female Japanese dancers, singers and artists)
- Kinnaree (a character in Thai folk dance played by women that is half woman/half bird)
- Lakhon (a type of Thai dance performed by women in elaborate costumes)
- Maiko (a Geisha apprentice)
- Prima Donna (the lead female opera singer)
Dragon Names for Betta Fish
Like bettas, mythological dragons are known for brightly colored scales and aggressive temperaments. Dragon names are perfect for dragonscale bettas as well as any of the flashier bettas like combtails, feathertails and super deltas.
Mythological Dragon Type Names
- Apalala (A river dragon from Buddhist mythology)
- Bakunawa (A dragon of the sea in Filippino mythology)
- Con Rit (A river dragon in Vietnamese mythology)
- Imoogi (An ocean dragon in Korean mythology)
- Ikuchi (a water dragon in Japanese mythology)
- Jörmungandr (A sea dragon in Norse mythology)
- Nāga (A dragon in Hindu mythlogoy)
- Neak (A dragon in Cambodian mythology)
- Ryū (A dragon in Japanese mythology)
- Sárkány (Adragon in Hungarian mythology)
Dragons in Literature and Movie Names
- Balerion (Game of Thrones)
- Charizard (Pokémon)
- Fafnir (Die Nibelungen)
- Falkor (The Neverending Story)
- Ghidorah (Godzilla)
- Haku (Spirited Away)
- Jabberwocky (Alice in Wonderland)
- Mushu (Mulan)
- Smaug (The Hobbit)
- Tiamat (Dungeon and Dragons)
Video Game Boss Names for Betta Fish
If you want to prove your geek cred, name your betta fish after some truly outrageous and fighting characters. Video game bosses are usually quite colorful and memorable and make a good name for any type of betta including veil tails, double tails and round tails.
- Artorias (Dark Souls)
- Atheon (Destiny)
- Bowser (Super Mario)
- Colossus (God of War II)
- Ganon or Ganondorf (Legend of Zelda)
- Goro (Mortal Kombat)
- Kai Leng (Mass Effect III)
- Malus (Shadow of the Colossus)
- Riku (Kingdom Hearts)
- Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)
Choosing a Name for Your Betta Fish
Picking the best name for your new betta fish can be a lot of fun. With their vibrant colors, strong personalities and elaborate fins, there are many aspects to focus on when thinking up a name. Use this list for inspiration and share your bettas' name in the comments!
