Names That Mean Water

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.

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.

Merial is a feminine name with complex historical roots. It may derive from the medieval name Muriel (meaning 'bright sea' from Celtic elements 'muir' meaning sea and 'el' meaning bright) with an altered spelling. Alternatively, it could connect to the Latin 'mereo' meaning 'to earn' or 'deserve.'

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 it.
aqua, the Latin word for water.

Sweet, 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 Luna, Rosa, Nova, and Luz.

Dark.

Feminine spin on Moses and European river name that's also the name of a wine.

One of many stuffy British W surnames that would subject an American boy to years of teasing before growing into it at age fifty.

Beautiful downtown Burbank -- about as glamorous a place-name as Akron...or Detroit.

Glenys, like Glynis, is a Welsh name that has never caught on outside Wales.

Riverlyn is a contemporary feminine name combining nature elements with a lyrical suffix. This modern compound name blends 'River'—representing flowing water, continuity, and natural beauty—with the popular feminine suffix 'lyn.'

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.

Surname of Declaration signer sure to present playground complications.

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

Africa's fourth-longest river would make a unique name choice.

Yarrow is a flowering herb that grows wild in Europe and North America, and has long been used in several Native American and European cultures as a healing plant. Named for the mythical god Achille, Yarrow is a symbol of enduring love.

Derya is a unisex name in its native Turkey, though even there it is far more popular for women than for men. It is related to the Persian name Daria, which also means sea.

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.