Baby Name Meanings · Nature, Place and Word Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 12 pages
of 12
English combination of Jean and Marie
"god is gracious + drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Rather dated smoosh name. The meaning of Marie is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and…
Irish, Gaelic
"head of the sea"
A rare and refined Irish place name (Cinn Mhara) turned baby name, belonging to a picturesque harbor town. As a given name, it has received occasional use especially amongst the upper classes in…
Nordic
"sea warrior"
A short form of Mýrkjartan, an Old Norse name derived from the Irish Muircheartach "sea warrior". It is also a Nordic form of the Old Irish name Certán, possibly meaning "humming sound".
Croatian
"coral"
A lively, summery Croatian name related to the word "coral". Its pronunciation is similar to ko-RAL-kah, with a softer L sound
Irish mythological name
Lir is the Irish god of the sea, the equivalent of the Welsh Llyr which some equate with Shakespeare's King Lear. This is one of those rare names that is simple and has a deep history with an…
Welsh
"the sea"
Llyr is a name with a great meaning and a lovely sound, but that sound is going to be next to impossible to get non-Welsh speaking people to pronounce (google the double L sound in Welsh). If you are…
Croatian, Serbian, and Slovene diminutive of Marija
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
In Slovenia, Maca is more common as an independent name than its parent name Marija.
Finnish, Irish variation of Mary
"sweet; drop of the sea, bitter"
Both Maire and Mare have begun making inroads with parents seeking novel yet authentic ways of honoring an ancestral Mary. The Finnish variation derives from the word mairea , meaning "sweet."
Japanese
"ocean"
Like many Japanese names, Manami has several possible meanings. This sea-themed one is very appealing.
French word name
"ocean tides"
Croatian and Hungarian form of Maria
A striking form of international favourite Maria, the meaning of which is uncertain. Theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah…
Occupational name from Latin
"sea-farer"
Spanish variant of Marisa
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"
Variant of Marisa
Latin
"of the sea"
Variant of Maris
Irish
"of the bright sea"
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…
Variation of Muriel, Irish
This pleasant modernization of a dated original is still rare but has real modern possibilities. Alternate versions include Merial and Meryl. Meriel was given to fewer than five baby girls in the US…
Turkish
"sea wind"
A fairly common name in Turkey, referring to the north wind blowing off the Aegean Sea.
Cornish
"a profit from the sea"
A medieval Cornish name which despite sounding similar to the French name Emeraude, is actually connected to the Welsh name Morfydd. Pronunciation rhymes with Herod -- and yes, the final d is…
Irish surname, related to the sea
A merry surname cousin of Kerrigan, could make a lively choice for a happy little girl.
English
"town by the lake"
Sounds like a displaced Dr. Seuss character.
