Baby Name Meanings · Nature, Place and Word Names
Names That Mean Ocean or Sea
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About this list
Ocean names along with names that mean ocean or sea are increasingly popular for baby boys and girls.
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The top names meaning ocean or sea are Dylan for boys and the classic Mary for girls.
Along with Dylan, other boy names that mean ocean in the US Top 1000 include Kai, Malik and Wade.
We see the following ocean names for boys trending today. Kai, while technically unisex, is a Hawaiian name finding widespread popularity in many Western countries. Caspian is name of a sea in Europe and is one of many stylish Cas-beginning names. And Rafferty, an Irish name chosen by Jude Law, means floodtide and has a larger meaning of abundance.
Along with Mary, other girl names meaning ocean or sea in the US Top 1000 include Mae, Kaia, Jennifer, Marina, and Mira.
Ocean names for girls trending now include Cordelia, a Shakespearean name that means "daughter of the sea", Kailani, a Hawaiian name meaning "sea and sky", and Nixie, a sprightly German name that means water nymph.
Popular gender-neutral names with ocean meanings include Kai, Morgan, and Marley, which rank in the US Top 1000 for both girls and boys. Other unisex names meaning sea or ocean include Dune, Murphy, and Ocean itself.
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Unique names meaning sea or ocean that strike a stylish note include Mariner, Merrigan, and Wave, the name of Cardi B and Offset's little boy.
A subset of names that mean water and of the wider world of nature names, ocean names include baby names with ocean or sea related meanings, such as Kai and Morgan, the names of specific oceans and seas, as well as the names of sea creatures and mythological aquatic figures.
If you love the ocean and want to draw on its power and mystery for a name for your child, consider the choices on this list.
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The names
Dylan
Welsh
"son of the sea"
Dylan still feels poetic and romantic after years of popularity. It still ranks highly on the charts, among the top boy names starting with D , so if you choose it, be aware that yours may not be the…
Maria
Hebrew or Egyptian
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
As a highly popular girls' name in all Spanish-speaking countries, this saintly Latin variation of Mary retains a timeless beauty. Through the centuries, Maria remains one of the most widely-used…
Kai
Hawaiian, Frisian, Chinese
"sea; warrior; triumph"
Kai is an internationally flexible name with many possible origins and meanings, growing in popularity in the US and a diverse range of European countries. In the US, the name Kai is most commonly…
Mary
Hebrew or Egyptian
"drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"
Mary is the English form of Maria, which ultimately was derived from the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam. The original meaning of Maryam is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew…
Kehlani
Hawaiian
"sea and sky"
This name first entered the US Top 1000 in 2016, probably because of R&B singer Kehlani, whose full name is Kehlani Ashley Parrish. It was the fastest-rising girls' name of the year. Kehlani may be a…
Kaia
Latin, Scandinavian, or Hawaiian
"to rejoice or sea"
The new Maia, the next Kayla, Kaia has been on the charts since the year 2000. You might see it as a female form of the also-rising Kai, which means sea in Hawaiian and is sometimes used for girls as…
Miriam
Hebrew or Egyptian
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
The oldest-known form of Mary, serious and solemn Miriam has been a particular favorite of observant Jewish parents. But we can see it extending beyond that sphere into the next wave of Old Testament…
Rosemary
Latin or English
"dew of the sea, or rosemary (herb)"
Despite appearances, Rosemary is not a "smoosh" name, not even a traditional one. The name derives from two Latin terms "Ros" meaning ‘dew’ and "Marinus" "meaning "of the sea". The plant was termed…
Kailani
Hawaiian
"sea and sky"
Bright, melodic, and nature inspired, Kailani blends the appeal of Kaia and Leilani in terms of sounds, while in meaning, it matches the draw of Skye, Ocean, and Celeste. Derived from Hawaiian…
Mariana
Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian
"related to the god Mars"
Mariana is that unusual name that is more than the sum of its parts. While Mary or Maria and Ana or Anna are both perfectly nice classic names, Mariana achieves a lyrical elegance that transcends…
Mira
Latin, Slavic, Arabic, Sanskrit, Japanese
"admirable; peace; female ruler; ocean; mirror"
A truly international choice, the sweet and simple Mira has its origins in Sanskrit, Latin, Slavic, and Arabic, just to name a view. With its arty aura and succinct look, it makes a versatile option,…
Wade
English
"at the river crossing"
Wade has never been outside the US Top 1000 for boys - there's a reason for that. It has a clean spelling, fresh sound and is neither too trendy (unlike Kade or Cade) or too old-school (like Richard…
Maryam
Arabic, Persian, and Urdu variant of Mary, Hebrew
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Classic Mary has many international variations and the strong, pretty Maryam is the Arabic, Persian, and Urdu form. Popular in many countries across the world, from Azerbaijan to France, The…
Malik
Arabic; Greenlandic
"king; owner; wave"
A name with many spelling variations, including Malek, Melik, and Maliq, Malik is a popular name of Arabic and Semetic origin that is used internationally as both a given name and a surname. In terms…
Mariah
Hebrew
"the Lord is my teacher; or drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Thanks to Mariah Carey, everyone now knows this name – and is aware that Mariah's pronounced with a long i – just as Maria was in the Jane Austen era. And though Mariah now sounds modern, it was…
Maren
Latin
"sea"
Maren is one of the many twenty-first-century takes on Mary--but we find the more classic Marin spelling preferable. When spelled Maren, the pronunciation seems more clearly to resemble Mary, with…
Caspian
Place name
"white"
One of the most romantic of appellations, Caspian is a geographical name referring to the large salty sea between Asia and Europe. It's also the name of the hero of C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of…
Mariam
Arabic variation of Mary
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Popular among parents with Arab roots. Also found as Maryam. Mary was ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Mariam. The original meaning of Mariam is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the…
Marlee
English
"pleasant seaside meadow"
The combined inspiration of reggae master Bob and the dog-loving romp "Marley and Me" catapulted this name up the chart in recent years. But what goes up....
Morgan
Welsh
"sea-born, sea-song or sea-circle"
Morgan, once split evenly between the sexes, is a strong and attractive Welsh favorite, still a common boys’ name in Wales. Morgan is now more often a girls' name in the U.S. – about 2000 girls were…

