100+ Names for Black Fish: Creative Ideas for Your Dark Beauty

After naming hundreds of fish at my aquarium rescue and helping countless customers at the specialty fish store where I worked, I’ve discovered that black fish deserve names as striking as their dramatic appearance. Whether you’ve just brought home a black moor goldfish, a midnight betta, or a school of black skirt tetras, finding the perfect name enhances the bond with your aquatic pet.

Black fish make stunning aquarium centerpieces, their dark scales creating elegant contrasts against colorful plants and decorations. In my experience running community tanks for fifteen years, black fish often display the most personality, perhaps because their coloring makes their movements and behaviors more noticeable. The right name should capture both their mysterious beauty and individual character.

Classic Black-Inspired Names

Shadow and Darkness Names

Shadow remains the most popular name I encounter for black fish, and for good reason—it perfectly captures their ethereal movement through water. I’ve personally named three different black bettas Shadow over the years, each one earning the name by lurking behind plants before dramatically emerging during feeding time.

Midnight suits fish with deep, solid black coloring, especially those with scales that shimmer under aquarium lights. My black orchid betta, Midnight, lived up to his name by being most active during late-night hours when the room was dark except for his tank’s moonlight LED setting.

Other darkness-inspired names that work beautifully include Eclipse, Twilight, Dusk, and Shade. Nocturne makes an elegant choice for sophisticated fishkeepers, while Vesper (meaning evening) adds a poetic touch. I once knew a black angelfish named Eventide whose flowing fins looked exactly like evening settling over water.

Coal and Mineral Names

Mineral-inspired names provide solid, earthy options for black fish. Coal, Onyx, and Jet are straightforward choices that immediately convey color. My black goldfish Onyx had scales so glossy they looked exactly like polished stone, making the name inevitable.

Obsidian works particularly well for fish with glossy, reflective scales. Graphite suits fish with slightly metallic sheens, while Slate fits those with matte black coloring. Carbon makes a clever choice for science enthusiasts, and I’ve met several black mollies with this name in local fish clubs.

For something more unique, consider Anthracite (a type of hard coal), Basalt (volcanic rock), or Magnetite (magnetic iron ore). These names add geological interest while maintaining the black color theme.

Pop Culture and Character Names

Movie and TV Characters

Black fish often remind owners of mysterious or powerful characters from entertainment. Vader tops the list for obvious reasons—I’ve encountered dozens of black bettas named after the Star Wars villain. The name works especially well for fish with flowing fins that resemble capes.

Batman, Zorro, and Neo from The Matrix make perfect names for active black fish who patrol their tanks like vigilantes. For Harry Potter fans, Sirius Black provides both color reference and character depth. My friend’s black ghost knife fish named Sirius perfectly embodied the character’s mysterious nature.

Wednesday (Addams) suits female black fish with attitude, while Morticia works for elegant, long-finned varieties. Dracula or simply Drac fits fish with prominent teeth or aggressive feeding habits. I once treated a black piranha named Dracula whose owner said the name chose itself during the first feeding.

Literary References

Literary names add sophistication to your black fish’s identity. Poe (after Edgar Allan) suits any black fish, but especially those with dramatic personalities. Raven, inspired by Poe’s famous poem, remains timelessly popular. My black telescope goldfish Raven had eyes that seemed to follow you around the room, making the name eerily appropriate.

Grimm (after the Brothers Grimm’s dark fairy tales) works well for fish with slightly menacing appearances. Hamlet suits moody black bettas who sulk in castle decorations. For mythology lovers, Hades, Nyx (Greek goddess of night), or Erebus (primordial darkness) provide classical options.

Food-Inspired Names

Sweet Treats

Food names add playful charm to black fish naming. Oreo ranks among the most common, especially for fish with any white markings. However, even solid black fish carry this name well—I’ve known three pure black mollies named Oreo whose owners couldn’t resist the cookie connection.

Licorice suits long, thin black fish like kuhli loaches or black ghost knives. Cocoa and Mocha work for fish with brown undertones in their black coloring. My black ranchu goldfish Truffle had a velvety appearance that made the chocolate reference perfect.

Other dessert-inspired options include Brownie, Fudge, or Hershey. For something unexpected, consider Espresso, Java, or Americano—coffee names that capture both color and energy levels of active fish.

Savory Options

Savory food names provide humorous alternatives. Olive works wonderfully for small, round black fish. Pepper suits speckled or spotted black fish, while Caviar adds luxury to fancy varieties. My friend named her entire school of black neon tetras “The Peppercorns,” which never failed to make visitors smile.

Seaweed, Nori, or Kelp make appropriate names given the aquatic connection. Black Bean creates a cute option for small, rounded fish. For truly unique choices, consider Squid Ink, Blackberry, or Raisin—the latter especially fitting for wrinkly black fish like some plecos.

Elegant and Sophisticated Names

Luxury and Fashion Names

High-end fashion and luxury items inspire elegant black fish names. Chanel, Versace, or Armani suit fish in upscale aquarium setups. My black crown tail betta Valentino lived in a minimalist tank that looked like a high-fashion advertisement.

Velvet perfectly describes the appearance of many black fish scales, while Satin or Silk work for fish with especially smooth, flowing fins. Cashmere adds a soft, luxurious feel. Patent (as in patent leather) suits glossy black fish with mirror-like scales.

Tuxedo or simply Tux fits any black fish, but especially those in formal office or study aquariums. Noir, the French word for black, adds international sophistication. I once maintained an all-black aquarium for a law firm where every fish had a luxury fashion name.

Gemstone Names

Black gemstones provide elegant naming options beyond the common Onyx. Jet, actually fossilized wood, makes a simple yet sophisticated choice. Black Pearl suits round-bodied black fish like balloon mollies. My black pearl betta earned his name from scales that showed rainbow iridescence in certain lights.

Tourmaline, which comes in black varieties, offers uniqueness. Hematite, with its metallic luster, fits fish with silver or metallic highlights. Obsidian, volcanic glass, suits fish with sharp, angular features. For the scientifically inclined, Carbonado (black diamond) provides an ultra-rare namesake.

Nature-Inspired Names

Night Sky Names

The night sky offers infinite naming possibilities for black fish. Beyond basic Star or Night, consider constellation names like Draco or Corvus (the crow constellation). My black telescope goldfish Nebula had finnage that looked exactly like space clouds.

Cosmic suits fish with sparkly scales that resemble distant galaxies. Void works for solid black fish without any markings. Black Hole makes a humorous choice for fish with large appetites. Astronaut friends have named black fish after dark nebulae like Horsehead or Coalsack.

Planet-inspired names like Pluto (now a dwarf planet but still beloved) work well. Moon phases provide options like New Moon or Dark Moon. Aurora might seem counterintuitive for a black fish, but it suits those with hidden iridescent qualities.

Weather Phenomena

Storm-related names capture the dramatic presence of black fish. Storm itself works universally, while Thunder suits large, impressive fish. My black shark catfish Thunder dominated his tank with presence matching his name.

Tempest adds drama, while Cyclone fits fish that swim in circular patterns. Nimbus (storm cloud) provides a softer option. Fog or Mist work for fish that seem to appear and disappear in tank shadows. One customer named her black ghost knife Monsoon because he only emerged during water changes.

Unique and Creative Options

Mystery and Magic Names

Black fish naturally evoke mystery, making magical names fitting choices. Mystic, Magic, or Phantom suit fish with ethereal swimming patterns. My black kuhli loach Houdini earned his name by constantly disappearing and reappearing in impossible places.

Enigma works for fish whose behavior puzzles you. Cipher adds cryptographic intrigue. Voodoo or Hex fit fish that seem to hypnotize their owners. Salem (beyond the witch trial reference) evokes magical associations. Wizard or Warlock suit impressive male fish with flowing fins.

Historical and Mythological Names

Historical figures provide distinguished names. Napoleon (particularly for small black fish with big personalities), Cleopatra, or Caesar add gravitas. My black moor goldfish Churchill had jowls that made the resemblance uncanny.

Mythological options extend beyond Greek gods. Anubis (Egyptian god with black jackal head) suits sleek black fish. Fenrir (Norse wolf) works for predatory species. Kali (Hindu goddess) fits fierce female fish. Japanese mythology offers Yamata no Orochi for serpentine black fish.

Music-Inspired Names

Musical references create rhythmic names. Jazz suits smooth-swimming black fish, while Blues fits those with melancholic swimming patterns. My black betta Vinyl had scales that reflected light like old records.

Band names like Sabbath (Black Sabbath) or Floyd (Pink Floyd’s Dark Side) work for music lovers. Classical options include Requiem or Nocturne. For fun choices, consider Metallica, Hendrix, or Cash (Johnny Cash, the Man in Black).

Matching Names to Fish Personality

Active vs Calm Fish

Energetic black fish suit dynamic names like Dash, Zoom, or Rocket. My hyperactive black molly Turbo lived up to his name, constantly racing around his tank. Calm fish better suit serene names like Zen, Buddha, or Tranquil.

Consider your fish’s swimming pattern. Gliders suit names like Drift or Flow. Darting fish fit names like Arrow or Bullet. Bottom-dwellers work with names like Prowler or Lurker. My black corydoras catfish Scooter perfectly described his substrate-searching style.

Social vs Solitary Fish

Schooling fish need names that work individually and collectively. I’ve seen groups named after playing cards (Ace, King, Queen, Jack for four black fish) or musical notes (whole school called The Black Keys). Solitary fish can have more complex, distinctive names since you won’t be calling multiple fish.

For pairs, consider complementary names like Eclipse and Solstice, Yin and Yang (even though both are black), or Thunder and Lightning. My breeding pair of black angelfish, Romeo and Juliet, had a relationship as dramatic as their namesakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I wait to name my black fish until I know its personality? While some owners prefer waiting, I’ve found that naming fish immediately helps with bonding and makes medical record-keeping easier. You can always add nicknames later. About 30% of fish I’ve named eventually earned completely different call names based on personality, but kept their original names for vet records.

Can I give my black fish a colorful name ironically? Absolutely! Some of the best black fish names play against type. I’ve known black fish named Sunny, Rainbow, and Pinkie. My solid black goldfish Snowball always got laughs and started conversations. Ironic names often become the most memorable.

Do fish recognize their names? While fish don’t understand names like dogs do, many species recognize feeding routines and keeper voices. My black moor goldfish definitely responded differently to his name versus general talking, though this likely reflected tone patterns rather than word recognition. Using names consistently during feeding creates positive associations.

What if I have multiple black fish that look identical? Even identical-looking fish have subtle differences in size, fin shape, or behavior. I use temporary identifiers like “biggest,” “most active,” or “hiding fish” until personalities emerge. For true schools where individual identification doesn’t matter, collective names work fine—calling them all “The Shadows” or “The Void Squad.”

Are there any cultural considerations for naming black fish? Some cultures associate black with mourning or bad luck, while others see it as elegant or protective. Consider your audience if the aquarium is in shared spaces. I’ve helped customers choose culturally appropriate names that still celebrate their fish’s coloring, like using words for “night” or “deep water” in various languages.

Finding Your Perfect Black Fish Name

Choosing the right name for your black fish combines observation, creativity, and personal preference. The best names reflect either physical appearance, personality, or your own interests while being easy to say and remember.

Don’t overthink the process—sometimes the perfect name appears immediately. Other times, living with your fish for a few days reveals the ideal choice. Whether you choose something classic like Shadow, pop culture-inspired like Vader, or completely unique like Espresso, the right name enhances your connection with your aquatic pet.

Remember that naming your fish makes them family members rather than decorations. It encourages better care, closer observation, and deeper appreciation for these beautiful creatures. Your black fish’s name becomes part of their story and your aquarium journey together.