Nature, Place and Word Names · Baby Name Meanings
Names That Mean Water
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Harbor
Word name
We've seen Haven take off as a nouveau girls' name; Harbor could follow in its wake.
Fjord
Norse word name
The Old Norse and modern Norwegian word name Fjord, which refers to a passage in the sea, could work for children of both genders.
Sereia
Portuguese
"mermaid"
The lovely Sereia is the Portuguese word for mermaid but can also be used as a name. English speakers may shy away from the name because of pronunciation questions and indeed, any little Sereia…
Delta
Greek
"fourth letter; island formed at the mouth of a river"
Delta is an unusual vintage option, blending the sounds of Della and Etta. The fourth letter of the Greek alphabet and a geographical term, used to describe an island formed at the mouth of a river,…
Lucerne
Swiss place-name or Latin
"lamp"
Projects the calm and pristine image of the picturesque Swiss lake and mountain town.
Cove
English
"small bay"
Cove is an up-and-coming nature name whose cool sound and peaceful image saw it rising for both sexes... until COVID-19 hit. It remained steady in use for boys in 2021, but actually increased for…
Firth
Scottish nature name
"estuary or arm of the sea"
Highly unusual water name -- and actor Colin surname -- with a Scottish burr. Firth derives from the Old Norse word fjord.
Struan
Gaelic
"stream"
A strong, eminently usable which is currently highly fashionable in its native Scotland, but little known elsewhere. With its cool two-syllable, n-ending shape and attractive nature meaning, Struan…
Rayburn
English
"roe-deer brook"
If you feel a burning need to gussy up Ray -- think again.
Arno
German
"eagle"
Subtract the last two letters of Arnold, and you're left with a much more modern-sounding name. Arno is also the name of the main river in Florence, upon which sits the famed Ponte Vecchio. The…
Nerida
Greek; Aboriginial
"sea nymph, mermaid; red waterlily"
This is one of the more unusual examples of a group of Greek names connected to the sea, which makes sense for a nation of coastline and islands. The Nereids or water nymphs were the daughters of sea…
Evian
Variation of Evan, French place name
"God is gracious; water"
Evian might sound elegant, if you could forget the water. But, as noted in the 1999 movie Superstar , which features a female Evian, no one will. Or at least, they might feel the need to comment on…
Baia
Portuguese
"bay"
This possible word name, which rhymes with Maia, makes an even more distinctive alternative.
Zarya
Slavic mythology name
In Slavic myth, this name belonged to the water priestess and protector of warriors.
Strom
German
"stream"
Irrevocably tied to long-lived, controversial South Carolina senator Strom (born James) Thurman; Strom, which sounds like an anagram of Storm, was his mother's maiden name. With a stretch, you might…
Zambezi
River name
Africa's fourth-longest river would make a unique name choice.
Noelani
Hawaiian
"heavenly mist"
Unusual yet accessible Hawaiian choice. The Noel beginning makes it a possible name for baby girls born at Christmas .
Bayou
Native American nature name
A slow and sultry southern choice that's definitely cool for babies of either gender. While the word feels French and has its roots in 18th century French Louisiana, it derives from the Choctaw word…
Niara
Hindi
"nebula, mist"
More unusual alternative to Tiara.
Rivo
Estonian
A variant of Estonian Riivo, of uncertain meaning, that fits right in with cool water names like River and Rio.