Names That Mean Water

The Kaveri is a prominent river in South India, where it flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is among the seven holy rivers of India, personified by the goddess Kaveriamma. The name was derived from kāvēri, the word for "river" in the Sankethi language. Sankethi, related to Tamil, is spoken in regions around the Kaveri. Cauvery is the Anglicized spelling.

Oceania is one of the most elaborate of the trending Ocean-related names. Oceania also refers to the area of the world including Australia and neighboring islands.

Olympic skier Picabo Street was allowed to choose her name at the age of three, and picked it possibly (a) after a nearby Idaho town or (b) because she loved to play peekaboo. No longer a single-person name, it is now worn by a number of satisfied bearers.

Doolish (known as Douglas in English) is the largest town in the Isle of Man. The name is though to derive from a Celtic word "Duboglassio" which means "black river".

If you feel a burning need to gussy up Ray -- think again.

St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, and her feast day on January 25 is the equivalent of Valentine's day in Wales. The short form Dwyn may be more manageable for the non-Welsh.

Sparky, spirited, and unexpected as a given name, reality TV star Lala Kent brought Sosa into the spotlight when she chose it for her daughter in 2024. A Spanish name deriving from the Portuguese surname Sousa, Sosa is a unique choice that still fits in with the likes of Asa, Ezra, and Luca.

Unusual alternative to Fisher with a brisker surname appeal.

Irish name with an intriguing lilt.

A name commonly heard on New York's Lower East Side at the turn of the last century.

Likely derived from the name of a river in Wales, Teifion has an intriguing, ancient look, but a contemporary feeling sound. It combines the suffix -on with Teifi, a name that may ultimately share its roots with Thames, giving it the meaning, "waters, river, darkness". A quietly used option in England and Wales, it is given to a small handful of babies more years.

Couldn't be simpler...or more worldly — though it could lead to some head-scratching.

Surname of Declaration signer sure to present playground complications.

How to spruce up Fisher or Beau? This French surname-name might be an option for a parent unafraid of the unusual. The name derives from Barbel, a type of fish, which is how it became a surname for some fishermen.

Brad in a Brooks Brothers suit.

This Indian name would make the perfect choice for those looking for a strong water-based name. A variation which may seem more immediately masculine to the English-speaking ear is Varun. The feminine version is Varuni, who was Varuna's consort.

Pacific is an adventurous kind of place-name, with the added bonus of the association with peace.

As passé as Hilton and Milton.

This one syllable name has a soft sound but powerful imagery. Derived from Old Norse, it is the Icelandic and Norwegian word for waterfall.