Is Bob an acceptable name for a fish? | Kelly Brown

Can you give your pet the name Bob?
A fish called BobA fish called Bob
A fish called Bob

That was the big debate in our house this week as we welcomed another member of the family into our home.

Bob, or Star as my daughter insists on calling him (I’ll get to that in a minute), has been with us for less than a week but already sparked a bit of division.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This little goldfish was actually a surprise addition to our fish tank as I took my daughter out after school to choose one additional little swimmer.

But then, of course, the “helpful” lady in the pet shop told us that, with the size tank we had, I could fit another two in.

Well, my little girl didn’t need any further invitation after that, and merrily started choosing a second fish with the speed and swiftness of a ninja warrior.

This meant that we left with a fish for her, and a fish for mummy, to become friends with our one surviving fish.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His name is Fishy, in a stunning thought by my son, who thinks this is in fact the perfect name for a fish, and will not be persuaded otherwise.

My girl has decided that she wants to call her new pet Fantasy, which I can only attribute to her unicorns and dragons obsession, which means that everything of hers currently has names of similar standing.

I then announced the choice of name for my fish ... Bob.

Oh, the outrage this caused as I was firmly told that Bob is most definitely NOT a name for a fish.

Why? It just isn’t, was the answer I was given in a world where apparently the only acceptable names for fish are things like Nemo, Dory, Bubbles or Crystal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And so my daughter has decided to call my fish Star and gives me a steely glare when I dare to utter his real three-letter name.

Perhaps he can be like a superhero and be called one thing by day (by her) and one thing by night (by me).

But one thing is for sure. I’m just delighted we are not arguing over the name of a cat or a dog or else ‘Kitty or Rover would just be thoroughly confused!