How to Get Name Tags from Fishing in Minecraft

Key Takeaways

Point	Details
Name tags have a	Name tags have a base 0.8% chance of being caught from any fishing spot.
You must rename a	You must rename a name tag on an anvil (1 XP) before it works.
Named mobs won't despawn	Named mobs won't despawn and don't count toward the mob cap.
In Bedrock Edition, you	In Bedrock Edition, you can also get name tags from wandering traders (25% drop chance).
Java Edition allows up	Java Edition allows up to 50 characters on a name tag; Bedrock allows 30.

Yes, you can catch name tags while fishing in Minecraft, but the odds are slim. Name tags fall into the "treasure" category of the fishing loot table, which makes them a rare but rewarding catch. Here's exactly what you need to know to fish for name tags and put them to use.

Exact Name Tag Fishing Chances

Every time you cast your line into a body of water, the game rolls a loot table. For a full breakdown of how this works, check out the Minecraft Fishing Mechanics and Loot Guide. Name tags have a precise 0.8% chance of being caught per attempt.

Name tags are obtainable through fishing, with a 0.8% chance per attempt.

This chance applies to all natural water bodies in Java Edition. Unlike some other fishing junk items (like bamboo or lily pads), name tags are not restricted to specific biomes. Any lake, river, or ocean block will do. The key to success is volume: the more casts you make, the more name tags you will eventually reel in. If you are struggling to get bites, check out Why Your Minecraft Fishing Rod Isn't Catching: Key Factors.

How to Rename and Use a Name Tag

Pulling a name tag out of the water is only the first step. If you need a refresher on making a rod, see How to Craft a Fishing Rod in Minecraft. A name tag does nothing on its own. It must first be renamed on an anvil.

A name tag is an item used to give a name to a mob after writing one on the tag using an anvil.

Renaming costs 1 experience level per stack. You can stack up to 64 name tags and rename the entire stack for a single experience level, which is a very efficient way to process a large catch.

A stack of up to 64 name tags can be renamed at once, and the cost is still 1 experience level per stack.

Once renamed, simply right-click (or use the appropriate interact button) on any eligible mob to give it that name. The name tag is consumed in the process.

What Naming a Mob Actually Does

The primary gameplay benefit of naming a mob is persistence.

Most named mobs do not despawn or count toward the mob cap.

Named mobs will not despawn naturally and do not count toward the area's mob cap. This is incredibly useful for:

• Preserving rare or difficult-to-obtain mobs (like a specific villager with good trades).
• Keeping a permanent wolf pack or horse stable.
• Preventing hostile mobs from despawning if you want a specific one to stick around (though they will still burn in sunlight if undead).

Alternative Ways to Get Name Tags in Bedrock Edition

If fishing isn't your style, or you are playing Bedrock Edition, there is another path. Wandering traders occasionally offer name tags for trade. If you kill a wandering trader while it is showing a name tag as a trade offer and you are holding an emerald, it has a 25% chance of dropping the name tag.

In Bedrock Edition, wandering traders have a chance of 25% (increased by 1% per level of Looting) to drop 1 name tag when killed while showing the item as trade offer, if the player holds an emerald.

This chance increases by 1% per level of Looting on your weapon.

Name Tag Character Limits and Limitations

While name tags are powerful, they have limits. The most important practical limit is the number of characters you can use.

A name tag can be renamed with an anvil using up to 50 characters‌[JE only] or 30 characters‌[BE only].

This means you have plenty of room for creative names in Java Edition, but Bedrock players will need to be a bit more concise. You also cannot name the Ender Dragon, Agents, or other players. Once a mob is named, the name cannot be removed without using commands or external tools.