Baby Name Meanings · Nature, Place and Word Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 12 pages
of 12
Slovene diminutive of Marija
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Slovene Mia cognate, rarely seen in the US.
Scottish
Mirren is a lively and attractive Scottish name, popular in its native country but best known outside Scotland as the surname of the English actor Dame Helen Mirren. It is thought to be a Scottish…
Irish
"sea taboo"
When British rocker Steven Patrick Morrissey decided to use his last name alone, it became a viable option for baby namers, a lot cooler than Morris or Maurice.
French variation of Muriel, Irish
"of the bright sea"
Murielle emerged as a distinctively French elaboration, adding the feminine '-elle' suffix to create a more melodious version of the classic name. Though less common in English-speaking countries,…
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…
Maori
"reflections on the water"
New Zealand writer Ngaio (born Edith Ngaio) Marsh is the best-known bearer of this Maori nature name, properly pronounced ng (like the end of sing) -EYE-oh. It is the name of a tree indigenous to New…
Mythological name
"ocean"
Oceanus was the Titan in ancient Greek mythology who rules what they thought was the body of water that surrounded the Earth. Oceanus was, appropriately enough, the name of the baby born on the…
Italian
"wave"
An Italian word name that somehow feels incomplete in itself.
Latin
"little wave"
Mythological spirit of the waters; spelled Undine, she was an Edith Wharton heroine.
Ocean name; from Latin
"tranquil"
Pacific is an adventurous kind of place-name, with the added bonus of the association with peace.
Russian, diminutive of Pelagia
"open sea"
Friendly Slavic rarity.
Maori, a mythological sea maiden
Pania is a possible alternative to Tania, if you want to go the New Zealand rather than Russian route.
Diminutive of Pavel or Praskovya, Russian
"small, humble; preparation"
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…
Greek
"the sea"
The name of several early saints, including one, Pelagia the Penitent, a beautiful and licentious dancing girl who repented, then, disguised as a man, spent the rest of her life living alone in a…
"from the sea"
Pelagios is one of the more outre of the sea-related names. But Pel could work as a short form -- or Gus.
Variation of Seabrook, English surname
"trickling stream"
A way to feminize Seabrook, if you want a name that is gender-neutral in sound but not appearance.
English nature name
"seagrass"
Seagrass plays an important role in the aquatic ecosystem. They are the only plants that can flower underwater and provide food and shelter to many organisms. Seagrasses also improve water quality,…
Scottish and English
"town by the sea"
A perfectly fine Anglo surname, though we'd prefer Keaton. Oscar-winning writer-director George Seaton ( Miracle on 34th Street, The Country Girl ) was actually born George Stenius.
English
"seaman"
Associated with archetypal folksinger Pete Seeger.
"seal folk"
A mystical name with a watery feel to it, selkies are mythical creatures that resemble seals in the water but assume human form on land. Appearing in Scottish folklore, their name comes from the word…
