Nickname help!
We want to name our baby Penelope but we can’t decide on a nickname? Help!
Looking for nautical baby names?
We’ve sailed the seven seas to seek out the best nautical names that capture the spirit of life on the ocean wave!
Looking for a baby name that captures the maritime spirit of freedom and adventure?
There are lots of different ways a name can have a nautical vibe.
Some describe the sea itself.
Others are linked to life on the ocean or honor famous seafarers of the past.
And yet others have religious or mythological connections to the sea.
And while our lists are divided into boys’ and girls’ names, this is just a guide to get your creative juices flowing.
Feel free to mix and match as you see fit.
Ready? Let’s weigh anchor and begin our voyage of discovery!
In this article: 📝
- Nautical boy names
- Nautical girl names
- What are some cool ocean names?
- What name means calm waters?
- What are some good sailor names?
- What are names for sea lovers?
- What name means fisherman?
Nautical boy names
Nautical boy names often relate to the life of a sailor.
Sometimes they’re connected to values of courage and daring.
And sometimes, they link to bodies of water or specific places.
Here are our top picks:
- Adrian: This popular name comes from the Latin for “son of Adria,” a Roman town. But it’s also the root from which the Adriatic Sea takes its name, making it a perfect nautical name.
- Agwe: This Jamaican name means “spirit of the sea” or sometimes simply “water.”
- Andrew: The Biblical Andrew was a fisherman who was one of Jesus’s disciples. The name means “strong and manly.”
- Brendan: Saint Brendan is one of many patron saints of sailors. He was an Irish priest known for his long and adventurous voyages. For an extra perk, Brendan means “prince” or “king.”
- Caspian: Another name linked to a specific body of water, the Caspian Sea lies between Asia and Russia. The name comes from the Latin caspii meaning white.
- Christopher: Saint Christopher is perhaps the best-known patron saint of travelers. And another Christopher, Columbus, was a famed maritime explorer.
- Clement: Saint Clement was drowned with an anchor tied around his neck, punishment for his attempts to convert people to Christianity. He is another patron saint of sailors and a protector against storms.
- Douglas: This Gaelic name meaning “dark stream.”
- Dylan: This Welsh name means “son of the sea.” Traditionally used for boys, it’s now increasingly used for girls too.
- Erasmus: An Italian bishop, Erasmus is another patron saint of sailors
- Elmo: This is an alternative name for Saint Erasmus. “Saint Elmo’s fire” is the name given to a blue glow that can appear around a ship’s masts in stormy conditions. Ancient mariners often considered it a good omen.
- Francis: Saint Francis of Paola is a patron saint of mariners and naval officers.
- Horatio: Admiral Horatio Nelson is considered one of history’s greatest naval commanders.
- Jacques: French naval officer Jacques Cousteau pioneered modern underwater diving and marine conservation.
- James: James Cook was a famous British naval officer who led voyages of exploration across the world.
- John: Saint John of Nepomuk is considered a protector against floods and drowning.
- Neptune: After the god of the sea.
- Nicholas: Best known as Santa Claus, St Nicholas is also believed to have mastery over the sea.
- Peter: Like Andrew, Peter was an apostle who was also a fisherman.
- Phocas: Saint Phocas the Gardener is another patron saint of sailors.
- Sailor: This name can be used for any gender. It gained prominence when Liv Tyler used it for her son.
Nautical girl names
And now it’s time for these mighty seafarers to shine:
- Anahita: This lovely name comes from Persia and means “river and water goddess.”
- Asherah: A Semitic name, Asherah means “she who walks on the sea.”
- Christina: Saint Christina survived attempts to drown her and is a patron saint of sailors.
- Coral: This popular girl’s name is also a beautiful sea plant.
- Cordelia: This name has Celtic origins and means “jewel (or daughter) of the sea.”
- Doris: In Greek mythology, Doris was a sea nymph, the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. Sometimes the name’s meaning is given as “gift of the ocean.”
- Gali: This Hebrew name means “wave” or “fountain.”
- Grace: Grace O’Malley was a 16th-century Irish leader who successfully defended her country at sea.
- Jeanne: The remarkable Jeanne de Clisson was a French noblewoman who became a pirate to avenge the execution of her husband.
- Jessica: In 2010, 16-year-old Jessica Rose Watson became the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe solo.
- Kaia: Also spelled Kiya, this Hawaiian name means “sea.”
- Kailani: One of the most popular girls’ names in Hawaii, this lovely name means “sea and sky.”
- Krystyna: In 1978, Polish Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz became the first woman to sail solo around the world.
- Marina: From its Latin roots, Marina means “of the sea.”
- Mary: The Virgin Mary is believed to be a guide and protector to those at sea. One of her many aliases is Stella Maris, or “Star of the Sea.”
- Morwenna: This Cornish name is now often used in Wales. It means “sea wave.”
- Nancy: Nancy Wagner became the first woman ship pilot in the US.
- Stella: From the Latin for “star,” this name is a guiding light for those at sea.
- Ula: A Gaelic name, Ula means “jewel of the sea.”
- Yemaya: She’s the ocean mother goddess in the Caribbean religion of Santeria.
What are some cool ocean names?
The Hawaiian name Moana is used for girls and means simply “ocean”.
It’s shot to worldwide fame because of the Disney movie of the same name.
Another cool Hawaiian name is Aukai, which means “explorer of the sea.”
You could also opt for Bahari, Swahili for “ocean,” or Samudra, an Indonesian name with the same meaning.
Check out our list of oceanic names for more ideas.
What name means calm waters?
Lake is an English name that was once only a surname.
These days, it’s increasingly used as a first name for both boys and girls.
And it immediately conjures up images of tranquil bodies of water.
Another option for girls is the lovely Hawaiian name Lana, which means literally “calm waters.”
What are some good sailor names?
Got sailors in the family?
Or maybe you’re a sailor yourself ‒ either way, you’re sure to love these sailor names:
- Ahab: This name comes from the Hebrew word for “uncle”, but it’s more famously known as the name of the vengeful captain in Herman Melville’s novel Moby-Dick.
- Amelia: A Latin name meaning “industrious” or “striving”. It is also the name of the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart.
- Bartholomew: From the Hebrew name Bartholomaios, which means “son of Tolmai”. A popular name among sailors and has been used for famous sailors throughout history.
- Drake: From the Old English word draca which means “dragon”. Also the name of the famous explorer, Sir Francis Drake.
- Ellen: After the British solo sailor who broke the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2005.
- Fletcher: This name comes from the Old English word flet which means “arrow”. Another well-known sailor name used by several famous seafaring families throughout history.
- Isla: Meaning “island” in Scottish, also the name of a few famous female sailors throughout history.
- Robi: After the British sailor who became the first person to sail solo around the world non-stop in 1969.
- Thor: The Norwegian explorer who sailed on the Kon-Tiki raft across the Pacific Ocean from Peru to the Polynesian islands to demonstrate that ancient peoples could have made long sea voyages.
- Vasco: After the Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea, linking Europe and Asia by ocean route.
- Zheng: After the Chinese explorer and admiral who commanded expeditionary voyages to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa during the early 15th century.
What are names for sea lovers?
How about some nautical names to capture your love of the sea?
- Ariel: Meaning “lion of God” in Hebrew. It is also the name of the mermaid in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
- Delmar: Meaning “of the sea” in Spanish.
- Kai: Meaning “sea” in Hawaiian.
- Liriel: Meaning “bright sea” in Welsh.
- Marlin: A popular name for boys and means “sea fortress” in Gaelic.
- Nami: Meaning “wave” in Japanese.
- Ocean: From the Greek word okeanos which means “great river”. Also literally the ocean.
- Triton: After the Greek god of the sea, Triton.
What name means fisherman?
Although more commonly found as a surname, Fisher is gaining popularity as a first name too, generally for boys.
The old English version is Fisk, another good option for parents looking for something unusual.
Nautical names can bring a taste of adventure, freedom, and daring.
But there are calmer options, too, with meanings connected to peaceful waters.
We hope there’s something here that’s caught your eye!