Ocean related names are becoming increasingly popular among the current generation of parents, as they look to tie their baby's name to the vast wonder of the seas.
Searching for baby names can be really tough, especially if you don't have an idea of what you'd like. However, having a topic or category in mind can help your search massively.
To many people, the ocean represents stability because it has remained a largely unchanged constant throughout history. And to others it represents a certain freedom with which they want to live their life. As a result, it's a popular source of names for baby boys and baby girls, along with other nature inspired names.
We've got plenty of wonderful names for you with fantastic ocean meanings. So, grab your wet suit, flippers and breathing apparatus - let's dive into the best names meaning ocean!
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Table Of Contents
35 ocean names for boys
We've got some very traditional boy names on this list as well as some that you might be surprised to learn they have ocean meanings.
1. Adrian
Adrian is the modern version of the Latin name Adrianus with duel meaning. It could be taken from the river Adria, but also from the Venetic and Ilyrian word 'adur', which means 'sea' or 'water'.
2. Arnav
Arnav is Hindi name derived from the Sanskrit word meaning 'ocean', 'sea', 'foaming sea', 'stream' and 'wave'. Plenty of ocean meaning there, then!
3. Bedo
Bedo is a Welsh name meaning 'great lord or sea lord'. It comes from Maredudd, which is the original male version of Meredith.
4. Caspian
Tourist on shore of Caspian Sea in Baku
The word itself means 'white'. But it is, of course, the name of the Caspian Sea, the largest inland body of water in the world that sits between Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
5. Devere
Devere is a French name that means 'from the fishing place'.
6. Dylan
A popular and traditional Welsh boys name, Dylan means 'son of the sea' or 'born from the ocean'.
7. Fisher
Unfortunately there's no unique or mythical meaning behind the name Fisher. It's simply a derivative of the names Fischer and Fiscere, both of which mean 'fisherman'.
8. Fisk
While Marvel fans may think of powerful crime lord Wilson Fisk (aka Kingpin), it's an occupational name for a fisherman or a fish seller.
9. Halloran
Halloran is a Gaelic name meaning 'male descendant of a pirate or stranger from overseas'.
10. Hurley
An Irish name, Hurley originally comes from the name Ó Muirthile, meaning 'sea tide' or 'sea valor'.
11. Iravan
Iravan is a name of Hindu origin meaning 'king of the ocean'.
12. Irving
Guys of a certain age might think of the Jackass character Irving Zisman, played by Johnny Knoxville. However, it does have several meanings related to ocean. It's a Scottish name meaning 'green water or river', 'fresh water', and 'sea friend'.
13. Kai
Kai is a name with multiple origins around the world. When it comes to ocean names, however, we're looking at the Hawaiian origin. Quite simply, it means 'the sea'.
14. Kjartan
Kjartan is a strong-sounding name from Old Norse, which means 'sea warrior'.
15. Lir
Lir is a sea god in Irish mythology, while the name itself is taken to literally mean 'sea'.
16. Llyr
Llyr is the Welsh version of Lir, and means 'from the sea'.
17. Malik
Malik means 'ocean wave' in the Inuit Greenlandic language, and is one of the most common first names for a baby boy in Greenland.
18. Marino
Marino is a popular Italian first name and surname with Latin origin, which means 'of the sea'.
19. Marley
Some people might argue Marley's ocean meaning, but we think there's enough of a link to include! It's an Old English name meaning 'from the seaside meadow' or 'from the lake meadow.
20. Marvin
Marvin is a popular name on both sides of the Atlantic ocean. But it's a name with Welsh origins, derived from Mervyn. It means 'sea friend'.
21. Merlin
Of course, most of us will think of the legendary wizard. But Merlin is actually another name with Welsh origins. It means either 'sea fortress' or 'from the hill over the sea'.
22. Mervin
As you may have expected, Mervin is another spelling of the Welsh name Mervyn which means 'sea friend', just like Marvin.
23. Morgan
Another of the Welsh names that mean ocean, Morgan means either 'circling sea' or 'white sea dweller'. It could've gone in the list of gender neutral ocean names, but its certainly a more common baby boy name in Wales.
24. Morrisey
Image: Man Alive! under Creative Commons 2.0 license
While the musician who fronted The Smiths in the 1980s may be most people's first thought (spelled Morrissey), it's a name of Irish origin that means 'choice of the sea'.
25. Murphy
Originally a boy's name with Gaelic meaning, Murphy has also become a popular choice for a baby girl. It means either 'warrior of the sea' or 'sea warrior'.
26. Murray
Murray is a hugely popular Scottish name that means 'lives by the sea'. It's also commonly used as a first name and a surname.
27. Pike
Perhaps not the softest sounding of ocean names, Pike is a boy name taking its meaning from the fish; pike.
28. Rafferty
Rafferty is another Irish name meaning ocean. Although it has connotations to 'abundance' and 'prosperity', it also linked to 'flood tide', which is the rising tide of the ocean. Traditionally a surname, it is becoming increasingly popular as a first name, especially after it was used by actor Jude Law for his son.
29. Seaton
Seaton is an Old English name meaning 'town by the sea'. It was originally given as a surname to people who, you guessed it, lived in a town by the sea.
30. Seward
Seward (think 'Stewart' for pronunciation) is another Old English name. This one means 'sea guardian'.
31. Tiberius
Tiberius is a Latin name best known as the second Roman emperor. It means 'of the Tiber', Italy's third largest river that flows through Rome, and so has strong connections to 'river'.
32. Varuna
Varuna is a Hindu god of the oceans and water.
33. Wade
Wade is an ocean name with multiple meanings. Firstly, he was the Anglo-Saxon sea god and god of sea battles. Secondly, its the English name for a Germanic mythological sea creature. And, finally, it's the term used to describe how people walk into water, partially submersed.
34. Zale
Zale is a name of Greek origin and means 'sea strength'.
35. Zealand
Zealand means 'sea land'. It's the English translation of the Dutch province Zeeland, which is pronounced 'Seelant'). And it was Dutch explorers who discovered and named the country New Zealand.
65 ocean baby names for girls
If you're having a baby girl and you're looking for a sea inspired name, you're in luck, because there are plenty of amazing choices.
36. Adriana
Adriana (also spelled Adrianna) is a Latin name meaning 'from the Adriatic sea', which is known for its particularly deep blue colour.
37. Aphrodite
Although Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty, the name comes from the Greek meaning 'risen from the sea'.
38. Ariel
Image: Disney
While Ariel isn't technically one of the names that mean ocean, it is perhaps best known for the Disney character from The Little Mermaid, so there's a pretty strong connection!
39. Asherah
Originating from the ancient Sumerian language from Babylonia, Asherah means 'she who tread on the sea'.
40. Athena
Although Athena is the goddess of wisdom in Greek mythology, she had strong connections to the sea. And so, the name is often taken to mean 'oceanic'.
41. Beryl
Beryl is the name of a green mineral which include precious stones like emerald and aquamarine. The name comes from the Greek word 'beryllos', which means 'colour of the sea'.
42. Ceto
Ceto is Greek goddess of the ocean, specifically goddess of sea monsters, whales and large sharks.
43. Cordelia
Cordelia takes its meaning from a combination of Celtic and Latin origin. It takes the Latin 'cor' which means 'heart', and the Celtic word means 'of the sea'. And so, its a baby girl name that means 'heart of the sea', 'jewel of the sea', or 'daughter of the sea'.
44. Coral
Of course, we think of coral reef. But the word itself also means 'sea growth'.
45. Darya
Darya is a Russian spelling of the Iranian name Daria, both of which simply mean 'the sea'.
46. Delmar
A Spanish name more commonly used as a surname, this one also has a straightforward ocean meaning... 'of the sea'.
47. Doris
Perhaps one of those traditional names you had no idea has such a wonderful meaning. It's a name of Greek origin meaning 'gift from the sea' and comes from the Dorian tribe, who occupied the Peloponnese peninsula and its crystal blue waters.
48. Dwynwen
Sometimes shortened to Dwyn (pronounced 'Doin'), Dwynwen is a traditional Welsh name meaning 'wave'.
49. Gali
Gali comes from the Hebrew word which means 'wave' or 'my wave'.
50. Guinevere
Best known from the legend of King Arthur as the King of Britain's wife, Guinevere is a name of Welsh origin. It have many meanings, one of which is 'white wave'.
51. Iluka
Iluka is one of the more unique names on this list, originating from Indigenous Australia. It means 'by the sea'.
52. India
Despite its obvious categorisation as a place name and the name of an ocean itself, India is also a name meaning 'from the River Indus' - a huge river that spans nearly 2,000 miles across China, India and Pakistan, emptying into the Arabian Sea.
53. Jenna
Jenna is a name of English and Welsh origin meaning 'white wave'.
54. Jennifer
One of the most popular names that mean ocean, Jennifer is a Cornish name that also means 'white wave'.
55. Kaia
Kaia is both a Norse and Hawaiian name with ocean meaning. In Hawaiian it means 'the sea', while in Norse mythology, Kaia is the goddess of the sea.
56. Kailani
Kailani is a Hawaiian name that stems from Kaia. It means either 'heavenly sea' or 'of the sea and sky'.
57. Kailea
Another Hawaiian name, Kailea combines Kaia and Le'a which means 'joy' or 'happiness'. It means the name has been taken to mean 'sea of gladness' or 'joyful sea'.
58. Kairi
Kairi is a gender-neutral Japanese name, but is considered more of a girl's name. It simply means 'sea'.
59. Kehlani
Very similar to Kailani, Kehlani also means 'sea and sky' or 'sea heavens'.
60. Maren
Maren is a name with Hebrew and Latin origins. It either means just 'sea' or 'points to someone from the sea'. It also carries the meaning 'star of the sea'.
A quick note before we continue! You're about to see a whole bunch of very similar baby girl names that carry equally similar meanings. That's because they're derivatives of the names Mary, Marie or Maria - 'drop of the sea'
61. Mariah
Best known from the singer Mariah Carey, Mariah means 'of the sea'.
62. Marianne
Marianne has French origins and means 'drop of the sea', as well as 'beloved and grace'.
63. Maribel
Maribel is a Latin name that combines Maria, meaning 'of the sea' and the French name Belle, which means beautiful. The name means 'star of the sea and beautiful'.
64. Marie
Marie is the French form of the Latin name Mary. As you've probably guessed, it means either 'drop of the sea' or 'star of the sea'.
65. Marilla
One of the more unique derivatives in this group, Marilla is a variant of Mary and means 'shining sea'. However, it is also used as a shortened form of the flower name Amaryllis.
66. Marilyn
Marilyn is a British mixture of the names Mary and Lynn. Of course, it also means 'star of the sea'.
67. Marina
A marina is an enclosed body of water used to dock boats. However, the name Marina comes from the Latin word marinus, which simply means 'from the sea'.
68. Marian/Marion
Many of us might think of Maid Marian from Robin Hood. But while those tales are set firmly inland in Sherwood Forest, Marian or Marion both mean 'drop of the sea'.
69. Maris
Maris is another Latin name that comes from the phrase 'stella maris', which means 'star of the sea'.
70. Marisa/Marissa
Perhaps most famous for the actress Marisa Tomei (or the character from The O.C.), Marisa is, of course, derived from Maris and also means 'of the sea'.
71. Marnie
Marnie comes from the name Marina, meaning 'from the sea', 'sparkling' or 'shining'. It also has connections with the Greek name Marmara, which itself is the name of a sea within the lands of Turkey.
72. Mary
One of the sources of all these names, Mary is Latin and means 'start of the sea'.
73. Masha
Masha is an Arabic name and carries that same meaning... 'star of the sea'. In Arabic, the spelling Mashaa translates to 'willpower' and carries a great deal of symbolism for Muslims.
74. May
While the calendar month is arguably the more common source of inspiration for the name May, it's actually a diminutive of Mary. You guessed it, it means 'drop of the sea'.
75. Meara
Meara is a lovely Irish name and has the straightforward meaning 'sea'.
76. Meri
Meri is a popular girls name in Finland, representing the marine and deep ocean.
77. Meryl/Merrill
Image: Dick Thomas Johnson under Creative Commons 2.0 license
These British names do have a slightly different meaning from the rest. They both mean 'sparkling sea' or 'bright sea'. Most will think of the actor Meryl Streep and you could say she's had a...sparkling career.
(More corny dad jokes can be found here)
78. Mira
This spelling of Mira has plenty of different origins and meanings around the world. It can be seen in Latin, Spanish, Sanskrit, Arabic, and Eatern European languages. It has many meanings, including 'peace', 'female ruler ruler', 'admirable', and most importantly for this list 'ocean'.
79. Miriam
Miriam is a Hebrew name that means 'drop of the sea'.
80. Moana
If you've ever watched Disney's Moana and wondered what her name meant, well, it means 'ocean' or 'sea'. It's almost as if Disney researched it.
81. Moria
Moria originates from the Old Irish and Scots Gaelic names Maureen and Máire, which itself is a variation of Maria. So it also means 'star of the seea'.
82. Morwenna
Morwenna is steeped in Welsh and Cornish folklore. The name originally meant 'maiden' in both sides of the channel. However, in Welsh, the 'mor' is more linked with the sea. So, the now is now taken to mean 'waves of the sea'.
83. Muriel
It's quite apt that Muriel is No. 83 on this list because any baby born Muriel immediately becomes an 83-year-old lady. Anyway, it has Irish origins and means 'sparkling or shining sea'.
And that concludes of selection of very similar names with very similar meanings...
84. Naia
Naia is a beautiful Hawaiian name with several connections to the ocean. It has been known to mean 'dolphin', 'to flow', 'wave' and 'sea foam'.
85. Nami
A Japanese name, Nami primarily means 'ocean wave' but can also mean 'beautiful' and 'red apple'.
86. Nerida
Nerida is a Greek name meaning 'sea nymph; the daughter of Nereus'. In Greek mythology, the sea nymphs or Nereids were the 50 daughters of Nereus. Nereus was the eldest son of Pontus (the sea) and Gaia (the Earth) and was known as the 'Old Man of the Sea'.
Caption: A Nereid depicted in Pompeii. Image: Unknown under Creative Commons 1.0 license
87. Nerissa
Nerissa was also a sea nymph, one of Nereus' 50 daughters that made up the Nereids.
88. Nixie
According to Old Germanic folklore, a nixie is a 'water spirit' or 'water fairy', a small mermaid-like creature that live in rivers.
89. Nori
If you've already got one child, you've probably already thought of the Hey Duggee! character. But Nori is primarily a Japanese girl's name meaning 'seaweed'. It's perhaps not the greatest ocean connection, but it's a lovely sounding name.
90. Ondine/Undine
Ondine is a sweet name of Latin origin that translates to 'little wave'. It can also be spelled Undine, the name given to underwater spirits by Swiss author Paracelsus who believed inhabited the water elements.
91. Rianne
Rianne is a popular Dutch name derived from Maria and Anne, and is often used as a shortened version of Marianne. Just like its derived names, Rianne also means 'drop of the sea'.
92. Rosemary
Despite its obvious connection to the wonderful fragrant herb, the name Rosemary comes from the Latin word Rosmarinus, which means 'dew of the sea'.
93. Sereia
Sereia is a Portuguese name more commonly used as a nickname, meaning 'mermaid'. However, it is a fairly popular given name in Portuguese-speaking Brazil.
94. Serena
If you spent any time watching US teen drama Gossip Girl during the 00s, your mind will immediately be drawn to the character Serena van der Woodsen played by Blake Lively. Serena is a Latin name meaning 'clear' and 'tranquil', which are words so often used to describe the parts of the ocean.
95. Tarni/Tahnee
Tarni is the modern spelling of Tahnee, a name originating from the Aboriginal Kaurna group. It has several ocean meanings including 'surf', 'breaking waves' and 'sound of the sea'.
96. Thalassa
Thalassa is another wonderful name steeped in Greek mythology. It means 'sea', and Thalassa was the daughter of Aether and Hemera. She was the female personification and goddess of the Mediterranean Sea.
97. Ula
Ula is another one of those names with varying origins. It is found in Scandanavian, Celtic, Hawaiian, German, and Arabic languages. Both its Scandanavian and Celtic origins both hold it to mean 'gem of the sea'. It is often used as a short form of Ursula in German-speaking countries, and Ulrika in Scandinavian countries.
98. Umi
Umi is a name with both Japanese and Arabic origins. While it means 'mother' in Arabic, the Japanese word means 'sea'.
15 gender neutral ocean related names
Gender neutral names are becoming increasingly popular. Sometimes they're born from using a word that isn't already a name, therefore they have no existing tie to either gender. And other times it's simply a case of using names that are considered to be from the opposite sex, like when actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively named their daughter James.
Here are some of our favourite gender neutral ocean names.
99. Bay
There's no hidden meaning here. A bay is an inlet of ocean where the land is curved inward.
100. Beach
Beach is a fairly well known surname in English-speaking countries such as England, Scotland, USA and Canada.
101. Coast
Coast takes its ocean meaning very literally, it is literally 'land near the sea'.
102. Cruise
Cruise is an English name meaning 'bold' or 'fierce', but of course the massive floating hotels that travel the world are what makes Cruise an ocean baby name.
103. Firth
Arguably the most traditional-sounding meaning ocean, Firth is a Scottish name and means 'arm of the sea'. A firth is a long, narrow stretch of the ocean or sea that stretches inland.
104. Hali
The name Hali comes from Halimeda, one of the 50 sea nymph daughters of Nereus.
105. Jordan
Certainly one of the most popular gender neutral names, Jordan obviously has strong connections to biblical names. A Hebrew name, it means 'to flow down [to the ocean or sea]'.
106. Khai
Khai is a gender-neutral name with Arabic origins. It means 'crowned' or 'royalty'. Of course, given its close links with the Hawaiian name Kai, it also has ocean meaning.
107. Ocean
Of course, we have the name itself...Ocean! Hopefully we don't need to explain why this one is included...
108. Pacific
The pacific is, of course, by far the world's largest ocean. The name itself means 'peaceful', but there's obviously a very clear ocean connection.
109. Pasha
Pasha is a gender neutral name with Latin, Greek and Russian origins. Despite its varying beginnings, each version means roughly the same thing 'small; of the sea'. In Russia, it is common for a baby boy born on Good Friday to be given the name Pasha.
110. River
You can argue whether or not River means ocean all you want. But the fact of the matter is that nearly every river flow into the oceans.
111. Tide
Tide actually has connection with the Bible, meaning 'that breaks the yoke' and 'knowledge of elevation'. However, we know it is the rising and falling of the ocean levels.
112. Wave
Surfing waves is one of the many ways people love to connect with the ocean. And it makes for a lovely ocean baby name.
FAQs
Can you name a baby Ocean?
Absolutely! If you're looking for ocean names, there's no reason you can't just go with Ocean. It works well for boys and girls, and is rising steadily in popularity in the US while still remaining quite unqiue.
What ocean names mean sea and sky?
There are two names that mean sea and sky; Kailani and Kehlani. Clearly, they're two very similar names meaning ocean and are both from Hawaii.
Which ocean names mean child of the sea?
You could argue that giving your baby any of these names makes them a child of the sea. The closest name to that literal definition, however, is Umi. This Japanese name means 'sea', however it is derived from Umiko, which does mean 'child of the sea'.
What are nicknames for Ocean?
So many parents end up using nicknames for their children. Take me, for example! My daughter is called Eden, but we regularly call her 'Flo' because her middle name is Florence.
These are some nicknames you could used if you call your child Ocean:
O, OC, Oce ('Oh-sh'), Shun, Sean, and Sea.
Which Hawaiian names mean ocean?
There are plenty of Hawaiian names meaning ocean, including: Kai, Kaia, Kailani, Kailea Kehlani, Khai, Naia, and Ula.
What are the seven sea names?
The 'seven seas' was a phrase used by Arabic people long before many of the world's oceans had been discovered. However, in the modern day they are listed as:
Artic Ocean
North Atlantic Ocean
South Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
North Pacific Ocean
South Pacific Ocean
Antarctic Ocean
