Names That Mean Water

With the fashion for all names Rom, this strong surname with ties to Old Master painter George has new possibilities. Obviously, it now has more political associations than artistic.

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

A rhythmic and attractive Cherokee girl name. Immokalee is also the name of a community in Florida.

This name of a river in Wales represents a vowel change from Alan, which makes the name somewhat more intriguing, but still possibly not intriguing enough. Bonus points if you're a surfer, sailor, or you're expecting a baby born under a water sign of the zodiac: It's one of the more unusual names that mean water.

An Italian word name that somehow feels incomplete in itself.

A sweet and clear Hopi name with a lovely natural meaning to match.

Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning, music, and the arts. She is also a river goddess, associated with the mythical Saraswati river, which played an important part in the Vedic texts.

Sweet and soft but outdoorsy too, Pasha could make an interesting alternative to Sasha. Typically used as a diminutive for Russian male names like Pavel, it has also been used for the feminine name Praskovya.

Soft and mellifluous nature-surname name, situated miles away from the dated Marshall.

Sounds like a displaced Dr. Seuss character.

Riverlynn is a modern feminine name that combines the nature word 'River' with the popular name suffix 'lynn,' which means lake or brook, creating a flowing, melodic name that evokes natural beauty.

Could be the next Nova, now that celestial baby names are in the ascendent.

An incredibly poetic name that could be worn well in many cultures.

Sprightly name popular in Israel with beachy meaning and international flex.

A strong, distinctive surname with a quaint meaning and rugged air, Arledge is associated with American sports broadcaster, Roone Arledge. It may hold contemporary appeal thanks to its similarities to Ledger and Arlo.

A male character in The Chronicles of Narnia, but could conceivably be used for a girl.

Variant of Treveri. The Treveri people gave their name to modern-day Trier, formerly known in English by its French name Treves, which is the oldest city in Germany and was one of the ancient capitals of the Roman Empire. This could be a novel way to honor an ancestral Trevor.

Possibly to honor Canadian short story writer Alice -- though Alice is more far accessible and--until very recently-- nearly as distinctive.

Some parents are turning to rivers and other bodies of water in the search for undiscovered place-names, and this has the feel of a Viennese waltz.