Nereus

The name of the father of the sea nymphs -- or one of its shorter forms such as Nereo or Nerio -- would be somewhat easier for a child to carry than Neptune. The name Nereus is largely forgotten but it certainly could rise again along with Atticus and Cassius and other ancient Greek brethren.

It derives from the Greek neros meaning "water" and was borne by a 1st century Roman saint, making it both a saint name and a sea-related choice. The traditional Greek pronunciation has two syllables while the English form has three.

The name has never charted in the US, but its Spanish and Italian form Nereo has occasionally been used.

Pronounced NEER-ee-us; NER-us.