200+ Inspired Ocean Names for Babies

Variant of Annemarie

This name of the mythological mother of Achilles might suffer from English speakers making the rhyming association to the word fetus. The traditional Greek pronunciation might alleviate that problem.

Merrill, once fairly common for males, is rarely used for girls (or boys either, for that matter) with this spelling. Chef Emeril Lagasse dropped the initial E from his name and called his daughter Meril.

Many Hawaiian names reference nature, especially the ocean -- not surprising for a state that's made up of islands. Kainalu's meaning is one of the loveliest.

Hurley is a possibility as a unisex surname-name ending with the "lee" sound. It is perhaps most associated with British actress Elizabeth Hurley, and is much rarer than Harley, because the "ur" sound is currently out of fashion (and the word "hurl" may put some off).

Sprightly name popular in Israel with beachy meaning and international flex.

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

A merry surname cousin of Kerrigan, could make a lively choice for a happy little girl.

The Spanish and Portuguese word for "sea" is a Top 100 name in Spain. In America, it's sometimes used as a nickname for names like Martina and Marina, but it could also plausibly stand on its own.

Cormorant is definitely one of the most unusual of the newly fashionable animal names, and one of the rare bird names for boys.

An undiscovered gem with clunky, buttoned-up appeal and a literary feel thanks to poet Delmore Schwartz.

Marine was trending for a long time in France, but the far right politician Marine (born Marion) LePen has dampened the mood.

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.

The field of nature names is constantly expanding to include all species of flowers and trees and animals and birds and even fish. In addition to its appeal for anglers, Pike recalls Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered and gave his name to Pike's Peak.

Marilee is one of the cheeriest – if least substantial – combinations of Mary with another name.

Gentle in sound and appearance but rugged and strong in meaning and feel, Brimi is likely derived from the Old Norse brim meaning "surf, surge", connecting it to the ocean. Also (and more popularly) appearing in the form Brimir, Brimi is a very quietly used name in Iceland, first approved as a given name in 2001.

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, slowing down pollution, and help prevent coastal erosion. Those passionate about marine conservation may find Seagrass a meaningful name — probably as a middle, unless you're particularly brave.

The name of the Inuit goddess of the sea, marine animals, and the underworld. There is also a dwarf planet in the outer solar system called 90377 Sedna, discovered in 2003 and named after the goddess because: "Our newly discovered object is the coldest, most distant place known in the Solar System, so we feel it is appropriate to name it in honor of Sedna, the Inuit goddess of the sea, who is thought to live at the bottom of the frigid Arctic Ocean."

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, Murielle has maintained steady popularity in France and French-speaking regions. The name carries an air of sophistication and Old World charm.

Tonwen is another name for Gwen, the mother of Saint Cybi and sister of Non (who was the mother of St David, patron saint of Wales). An unusual -wen ending option.