In this paper, we propose a novel, simple and accurate analytical study based on nonlocal elasticity theory to forecast small-scale effects on the radial vibration of anisotropic gold nanospheres submerged in viscoelastic fluid (VEF). Eringen’s model is used to determine the motion equation for anisotropic nanospheres, with the fluid assumed to be viscoelastic and compressible. The frequency equation is derived by imposing the fluid-nanosphere interface continuity conditions. A comparison with the literature results is conducted to demonstrate the validity and correctness of this analysis, which indicates a very good agreement. The importance of small-scale effects in the radial vibration, which need to be included in the nonlocal elasticity model of submerged nanospheres, is eventually revealed by numerical examples. It is discovered that the nanosphere size, nonlocal parameter, and glycerol–water mixture have a significant impact on the vibration behaviors. Our results show that the small scale is crucial for the radial vibration of gold nanoparticles when the gold nanosphere is smaller than [Formula: see text]. Thus, the resulting frequency equation is very useful to interpret experimental measurements of the vibration characteristics of submerged gold nanospheres in VEF.