Goldfish Names

An original choice for a fisherman's child. 

Devere

Gill is a masculine name with multiple origins, functioning both as a standalone name and a diminutive of Gilbert or Gillian. Derived from the Old Norse 'gísl' meaning "hostage" or "pledge," it also has Middle English connections to Saint Giles. In some regions, particularly Scotland, Gill relates to the Gaelic word for "servant." As a surname-turned-first-name, it carries an understated strength and simplicity. Gill has maintained modest popularity throughout the decades, appreciated for its brevity and unpretentious style. The name suggests someone practical, reliable, and straightforward. Its single-syllable simplicity gives it a modern feel despite its ancient origins, making it a timelessly appealing choice.

Gill

Ayuka

Sunglow

Also appearing as Percília, this distinctive choice appeared in the Brazilian charts in the 1930s and 1940s. While it may look like a relative of Percival or Priscilla, it does ultimately come from an Ancient Greek word meaning "perch" or "dark-spotted". Used as the name of a genus of ray-finned fish that are native to Chile, it could feel a bit too fishy for some, but for others, it could be a name with a cool nature connection and a rarer alternative to Cecilia, Philippa, and Perla. 

Percilia

Gilda, although related to the words gold and gilded, has definitely tarnished.  It once shimmered with the seductive image of Rita Hayworth in the film Gilda, then was associated with the beloved early Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner.  In opera, Gilda lives on as the name of the daughter of Rigoletto.

Gilda

We've had Apples, Plums, Peaches, Cherries, and Berries added to the fruit basket: you could be the first to pick a Tangerine. 

Tangerine

Y-ending color adjectives like Tawny and Rusty are nowhere near as stylish as the more sophisticated Lilacs and Violets. 

Tawny

Moby, the nickname of musician Richard Melville Hall, was thanks to his ancestor Herman Melville, creator of the infamous whale.  You can imagine calling a child Moby as a cute nickname in honor of a grandfatherly Richard or Dick, but the ghost of a Dick would always follow the name around.  In Melville's classic book, Moby was an invented word whose meaning has never been firmly established, though the best scholarship calls it a fictional place name that, in the custom of whaling ships of the time, helped identify the whale called Dick.

Moby

As a name, Topaz is a quietly used option, with a distinctive ending and a sleek but sassy feel. As a golden gemstone, it is said to have energizing properties and bring good luck to those who wear it. It is also the the birthstone for November, making it an ideal choice for a spirited November baby.
 
While the exact etymology is unknown, it is believed to come from Topázios or Topázion, the ancient name for what is now known as St. John's Island in the Red Sea. A yellow stone was once mined from there, and while it is now believed to be chrysolite, the name may have attached itself to the gemstone. An alternative theory is that it comes from tapas, a Sanskrit word meaning "heat" or "fire", which may relate to its golden hue, or to the fact it changes color when heated. 
 
Also believed to protect against dark magic and encourage healing and love, Topaz appears in an eponymous novel by Leon Uris, later made into a 1969 Hitchcock movie, in which Topaz was the name not of a person but a spy code name. There are are however characters called Topaz in Dodie Smith's novel I Capture the Castle, in the animated series Trollz, in the Marvel comic book of the same name, and in the show Steven Universe.
 
In the US, there have never been more than 20 Topazes born in a single year, making it a rare gem among Sapphires, Pearls, Rubies, and Opals.

Topaz

Aurembiaix was an impressive medieval countess, whose father Ermengol fought for her to inherit his lands, title and estate. Aurembiaix later fought for her right to succeed her father, and being a skilful negotiator was able to convince her local nobles to back her, despite being a woman. She later saved her city from invaders by dressing local women in men's clothing to give the appearance of greater military might. A year before she died she married Pedro, exiled prince of Portugal. When she died, she had no children and therefore she was the last of her dynasty.

Aurembiaix

Unlike the other fruit names that are just coming onto the baby name menu, Peaches is an old-timey nickname previously reserved for spangled showgirls, and now would be considered an outrageous -- verging on hip -- choice. Or perhaps it was, until 2023, when it entered the UK Top 1000, not sounding too out of place beside other 2023 favorites, Honey, Blossom, Sage, Halo, and Dolly. 

Peaches

One of the best known early Nemos was the captain in Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, while the more familiar modern one is the animated little orange fish in the Disney movie. Unusual name well worth considering. By the way, there is also a Shakespearean Nemo and one in Dickens's Bleak House. An enchanting early comic strip by Winsor McCay was called Little Nemo.

Nemo

Spelt Xanthos in Greek, this alternate name for Apollo has a noble sound (pronounced ZHAN-thus) and can always be shortened to Xan.

Xanthus

Unusual alternative to Fisher with a brisker surname appeal. 

Fisk

A bird name from the same Latin root as Aurelia, Oriole is extremely rare as a name: No babies were given the name in the US in 2022. But most people are aware of the Oriole bird, which makes this name uncommon yet possible.

Oriole

No babies of any gender were named Orange in the US in the most recent year counted. But that doesn't mean, in this era of anything-goes baby names, that it couldn't happen. In fact, Orange did appear in the US stats for boys throughout the 20th century, and was given to 20 boys in 1920. Not all that many, but still quite a lot to be called Orange. 

Orange

Goldfish names can be as creative as the names for any other pet. And why shouldn't your goldfish have an awesome name? People love to have fun with their pet fish names, the most common being Nemo and Goldie.

 include Ariel, Captain, Minnie, Moby, Coral, and Blue. Highly unusual names you may consider for your fish include Leviathan, Nixie, Wanda, and Orville.

names for your fish that mean gold or yellow

 and also focused on names with water- and fish-related meanings as well as names of famous fish — hi, Dory!

Here, some inspired names for pet goldfish.

Goldfish names are names for pet fish, that reference color, size, and water. (Page 6)