Names That Mean Water

One of the new color names that is catching on, invoking a calm, blue-green-sea feeling.

This Maori name, often heard in New Zealand, is an attractive, evocative choice for lovers of the ocean made famous – perhaps too famous – by the Disney heroine. Moana was also an alternate name for the heroine Ofelia in Pan's Labyrinth. Moana may also be a color name for a deep ocean blue ("lanu moana"). Moana and other Disney Princess Names are the subject of a featured blog.

Dark.

The Narellan is the name of a river in New South Wales. From this name comes this quasi-French girls' name, which is quite common in Australia.

Many Americans will misunderstand it as Maya, but Maayan (also stylized as Ma'ayan) is a popular Israeli name used for both sexes.

Refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India.

Bardo has a poetic beginning and upbeat ending, with roots in several diverse cultures. It may be most familiar today via George Saunders' novel Lincoln in the Bardo, which refers to the Tibetan Buddhist state of suspension between one life and the next, resembling the Christian idea of Limbo. Bardo is also an ancient saint's name: Saint Bardo was the eleventh century bishop of Mainz, in Germany. Actress Sandra Bullock chose Bardo as her son's middle.

Laguna Beach is a famous California spot -- though there's "goonie" teasing potential.

Laguna Beach is a famous California spot -- though there's "goonie" teasing potential.

Traditionally a male name, Leith now can make a highly unusual, strong but soft, and intriguing girls' possibility.

An offbeat way to get to Gwen.

The name of the (male) otter protagonist of Henry Williamson’s 1927 novel Tarka the Otter.

This Hawaiian name gracefully celebrates the force of nature, paying tribute to the ocean. If you're looking for unique names that mean ocean, this should be on your short list.

A super popular nature name in its native Turkey, currently Top 50 for both boys and girls there.

A bit formal for our time, Alcott would be a bit less forbidding.

Name with genuine roots that nevertheless feels synthetic.

In the Bible, daughter of King Saul and wife of King David.

This sprightly Irish mythology name would make an attention-grabbing choice.

This Hebrew water name has two main popular associations: Mayim Bialik, who played the title role in the early 90s TV series "Blossom," and the popular Israeli folk dance, "Mayim, Mayim."

Cool, serene name of the Egyptian river can make a fresh choice for a girl. The origin of river name Nile relates to the Arabic and ancient Hebrew word for dark blue or indigo; in ancient Egyptian, its literal meaning is river.