Getting Fish Names is really difficult, as all fish look similar. Local shops also confuse us a lot with the type of fish. For example, in Tamil Nadu fish shops, the seller used to say all fish as Paara(Trevally fish), but actually, it is not the same fish. Also, if we don’t know fish names exactly, then buying is difficult. I traveled to the USA for a few years. I know the fish names in Tamil, but I don’t know them in English, so I faced difficulty in buying fish. Then I started listing and updating the below for my reference. It would be useful for you folks also.
Let me know if I need to update the fish names in your language in the comment section, so I can try to update them. It will be useful for others.
Anchovy
| Languages | Fish Names |
| Tamil | Nethili, Nethali, Nethail, Thogai Meen |
| English | Anchovies, Anchovy |
| Malayalam | Nethili, Kozhuva, Natholi, Netha, Nathal |
| Kannada | Bolingei, Kollathuru, Manangu |
| Telugu | Nethallu, Pooroava, Kelba, Poravallu |
| Bengali | Ruli Purusa |
| Hindi | Kati |
| Konkani | |
| Gujarathi | Pelli |
| Oriya | Chauli |
| Malaysia | Bak kang, Bilis Bunga air, Pusu, Teri |
| Arabic | Barriya, Zaam |
| Pakistan | Phyasa, Padni |
| Philippines | Dilis, silag, Alipatang, Bolinao, Munamom |
| Srilanka | Halmassa, Handalla |
| Tagalog |
2. Barramundi
Barramundi/ Bekti are known as Asian seabass, one of the most popular fish in Australia.
| Languages | Fish Names |
| Tamil | Painee meen, koduvai, padukoppa, Dadhara, Kodusakeduwa, koduwa, koduva, |
| English | Barramundi, Bekti, Asian seabass |
| Malayalam | Chemali narimeen, kaalanji – narimeen, Nari meen,nuddee meen, tanad, koduva, kolen |
| Kannada | Koliji, mudar meenu, koleji, kemberi, keliji |
| Telugu | Panda chepa, Pandu meenu, pandu kopa, pandu koppa,pandugappa |
| Bengali | Bekti, Todah, Gural |
| Hindi | |
| Konkani | conak |
| Gujarathi | Gariyu |
| Oriya | Bhekti, Dadara, Bekkut, Durruah |
| Malaysia | |
| Arabic | Arosah, Nai sarah, sea bass (european) |
| Pakistan | Dangri |
| Philippines | |
| Srilanka | Halmassa, Handalla |
| Tagalog |
3. Barracuda
| Languages | Fish Names |
| Tamil | Ooli, Pilinjan, Sheela, Cheela, Goli, Gola, Oozha,Sheela |
| English | Barracuda |
| Malayalam | Neduva, Chilavu, thinda, koduva, cheela,Thiruthakkadian, Sheelavu, Cheelahoo |
| Kannada | Obantol, Kanaki, suruli kandai, |
| Telugu | Jellow |
| Bengali | Surnagi nimcha |
| Hindi | |
| Konkani | Tonki |
| Gujarathi | |
| Marathi | Ghalsi, Badvi, Badri, Jaban Tal |
| Oriya | Gayala, seelu betu |
| Malaysia | |
| Arabic | Al gidd, Agam, al kebeer, sabaat |
| Pakistan | Kund |
| Philippines | |
| Srilanka | |
| Tagalog |
4. Basa / Pangas / Vietnamese Catfish / Cream Dory
Basa (Pangasius bocourti) belongs to the catfish family. In the UK it’s known as Vietnamese river cobbler, basa, pangasius, panga. In North America and Australia, it’s known as basa fish, swai, bocourti. Other names are Yellowtail catfish
| Languages | Fish Names |
| Tamil | Keluthi meen, Aie, Coola kelettee, broiler meen |
| English | Vietnamese Catfish |
| Malayalam | Koori vaala, Indian Valah, Pangusis, Assam vala, Muzhu meen,Malaysian Vaala |
| Kannada | |
| Telugu | pungus, Choluvajella, Pangas, Banka jella |
| Bengali | |
| Hindi | |
| Konkani | |
| Gujarathi | |
| Marathi | Sheelan |
| Oriya | |
| Malaysia | |
| Arabic | Cream Dory, Sweet Doris, Shark catfish |
| Pakistan | |
| Philippines | |
| Srilanka | |
| Tagalog |
5. Bluefin Trevally
| Languages | Fish Names |
| Tamil | Paarai |
| English | Bluefin Travelly |
| Malayalam | Vatta Kaluvel, Oyupara Maduthala |
| Kannada | |
| Telugu | Kuroogoo – Parah |
| Bengali | |
| Hindi | |
| Konkani | |
| Gujarathi | |
| Marathi | Shitap |
| Oriya | |
| Malaysia | |
| Arabic | |
| Pakistan | |
| Philippines | |
| Srilanka | |
| Tagalog |
6. Bombay Duck
This is also referred to as a lizard fish.
| Languages | Fish Names |
| Tamil | Vangaravasi |
| English | Bombay Duck |
| Malayalam | Bummuli, Bomblaya |
| Kannada | Banguli |
| Telugu | Vanamattalu, Coco muttah, Cucah Sawahri |
| Bengali | Loitta, Lutia, Bumaloh |
| Hindi | |
| Konkani | |
| Gujarathi | Bumla, Gulchi |
| Marathi | Bombil, Nehare, Bunmalo |
| Oriya | Bombalo, Naluna, Banamotta, Bombil |
| Malaysia | |
| Arabic | |
| Pakistan | Bombil, Bombala |
| Philippines | |
| Srilanka | |
| Tagalog |
7. Butter Fish
Butterfish is a market name for several different types of fish. It is due to the oily or butter content in these fish. Many fishes are referred to as butterfish like Cobia, Trevally, Scat, Pompano, Dart, Amberjacks, and Seer fish.
In Kerala, Seerfish, Cobia, and Punnarameen / Poonara meen(Greater amberjack) are confused as butterfish. In Tamil Nadu, the Snakeheads are sometimes referred to as butterfish
Spotted Scat is also called Butterfish
Escolar is often sold under various names like “butterfish“, “Hawaiian walu“, “Snale Mackerel“, or “super white tuna”. Butterfish is also known as Chinese pomfret, white pomfret fish, or pompano
American butterfish is also known as dollarfish, shiner, skipjack, sheepshead, or harvestfish.
Black cod or sablefish is also sometimes confused with butterfish in some places
Japanese Butter Fish
Butter Fish
Silver Butter Fish
| Languages | Fish Names |
| Tamil | Nei meen, Viral meen |
| English | Butter Fish, Murrel |
| Malayalam | Nachara |
| Kannada | Konande, Bonke |
| Telugu | Bonke |
| Bengali | Paira Chanda, Bheja touri, Pabda, Jhol |
| Hindi | Saundale |
| Konkani | Saudalo, karchani |
| Gujarathi | |
| Marathi | |
| Oriya | Chitra Chandi |
| Malaysia | |
| Arabic | |
| Pakistan | |
| Philippines | |
| Srilanka | |
| Tagalog |