Name a Fish
What should you call your new aquatic friend? Your fish needs a name that's better than "fishy." Keep reading for instructions on coming up with a personal name that can be loved by all.
Steps
- Look at it closely. What is its shape? Behavior? Color? Size? Does it have any special or unique features? For example, a fish might have a red dot on its tail.
- Brainstorm. It might help to write down the thoughts you had when looking at the fish, then write down everything related to those words/thoughts that come to mind. Be creative!
- Tell someone else, or write down the new name. You don't want to go back to "fishy" after all that work coming up with one.
- Make sure to come up with a name that really suits your fish. What made you pick this fish out of all the others? Does it have any distinctive qualities or behaviours that sets it apart from other fish just like it?
- If your fish is a certain breed, give it a name that's close to the name of its breed. For example, if your fish is a butterfly fish, try calling it something like Butter.
- Make up a birth certificate and see how it looks.
- Ask friends and family for ideas. Ask them, what is the first thing they think when they see your fish.
- For example, if you have a clown fish, you could name it Ron like Ronald McDonald the clown.
- For a Betta fish, you could name her Skylar, and call her Skye (like the blue sky).
Tips
- If you can't come up with something right away, don't give up. The fish won't mind if she/he goes by "fishy" for a few more days.
- Sometimes it's hard to find the perfect name! Try picking the name on its behaviour or color, try websites, words from where the fish originates, or even ask friends and family members. There are multiple options to naming your fish.
- Ask friends or family for suggestions.
- Remember, fish names aren't required, but do make the pet feel loved!
- Think of your favorite names and call it that.
- If you think of some names, but can't decide between the possibilities, try looking at it and call it that name as if you're talking to it by its name. Try each name.
- If you're having trouble finding a name for your fish, you can always use names from movies!
- Use a full first, middle, last name, and perhaps a title; then shorten it to a nickname. For example: the name 'Sir Henry Wren-shall Humpback-Whale III, Duke of Detroit' should be shortened to "Hank."
- Try looking up names on baby name sites. (For example, if you have a fish that originates from Africa, try looking under the African names)
- Use names that are from different countries. (Example: Drago is "dragon" in Italian.)
- Think of your fish's talent. Is it fast or slow?
- Male Betta fish appeal to names of royalty (like "King Richard" or "the Duke of Wellington") and will respond to it's owner better when called in such a way.
- "Dinner" is an acceptable name for feeder fish in general, if you insist on naming them.
- Think of relative names and play around with them.
- Don't call your fish "Fish and Chips", it's rather amusing when dropped into a conversation, but makes you laugh at the wrong times! Also, some people may find it offensive. (They might think it is offensive to the fish.)
- Many nicknames end with an 'i' or a 'y'(e.g. Fifi, Ricky, etc.)
- Try thinking for a name that you've read in a book or have heard mentioned in a movie.
- Think of a favorite character from a movie or a book.
- Think your favorite thing or word than shorten it or make it a little funny.
- You can name your fish something from a movie about fish. It can be really cute if people who come to your house often have also watched the movie!
Things You'll Need
- A fish
- Writing utensil
- Something to write on
