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Mermaid - Underwater Names

tea-rose
By tea-rose
Updated Mon May 08 2023
A short list of a few of my favorite mermaid / water-related names for girls.
  1. Cordelia

    • Origin:

      Latin; Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "heart; daughter of the sea"

    • Description:

      Cordelia is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, grown-up name for girls that many parents are seeking for their daughters today. The name of King Lear's one sympathetic daughter, Cordelia has both style and substance along with its Shakespearean pedigree.
  2. Talia

    • Origin:

      Hebrew; Australian Aboriginal

    • Meaning:

      "gentle dew from heaven; by the water"

    • Description:

      Talia is derived from the Hebrew elements tal, meaning "dew," and yah, in reference to God. In the mythology of one ancient sect, Talia was one of ten angels who attended the sun on its daily course. The occasionally homophonous name Thalia has unrelated Greek origins.
  3. Margaret

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pearl"

    • Description:

      Margaret is derived from the French Marguerite, which in turn came from Margarita, the Latin form of the Greek Margarites. Margarites was based on the Old Persian word margārīta, meaning "pearl."
  4. Pearl

    • Origin:

      Latin gem name

    • Meaning:

      "pearl"

    • Description:

      Pearl, like Ruby, has begun to be polished up for a new generation of fashionable children after a century of jewelry box storage. The birthstone for the month of June, Pearl could also make a fresher middle name alternative to the overused Rose. Cool couple Maya Rudolph and Paul Thomas Anderson named their daughter Pearl Minnie, followed by Jack Osbourne picking Pearl Clementine. Several celebs have put it in the middle spot, as in Busy Philipps's Cricket Pearl, Jake Owen's Olive Pearl and Caleb Followill's Dixie Pearl .
  5. Mary

    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"

    • Description:

      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 roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).
  6. Marin

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "of the sea"

    • Description:

      Marin is a lovely county north of San Francisco, and a lovely baby name on the rise, one which sounds more refreshing than the more familiar Marina.
  7. Ariel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "lion of God"

    • Description:

      Ariel is a male Biblical name, seen there as the messenger of Ezra, and also used as a symbolic name for the city of Jerusalem, while Shakespeare used it for a (male) sprite in The Tempest.
  8. Brooke

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "small stream"

    • Description:

      Brooke has long projected an aura of sleek sophistication, and can also be seen as a stylish water name.
  9. Ianthe

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "purple flower"

    • Description:

      Like Violet, Lavender and Lilac, Ianthe is a purple flower name. Chosen by the poet Shelley for his daughter, Ianthe has a poetic, romantic, almost ethereal quality. In the ancient myth, she was the daughter of Oceanus, supreme ruler of the sea, and also a Cretan woman so beautiful that when she died the Gods made purple flowers grow around her grave.
  10. Navy

    • Origin:

      English, word name

    • Meaning:

      "fleet of ships; sea-based branch of the armed forces; dark blue"

    • Description:

      When R & B singer Nivea made this highly original choice for her daughter's name back in 2005, she claimed to have thought of it in terms of the color and not the seagoing armed service. As a word with multiple meanings, however, it could easily work as a nod to a naval officer in the family or to someone who enjoys sailing.
  11. Maris

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "of the sea"

    • Description:

      Maris is an unusual and appealing name that has never appeared in the U.S. Top 1000, overshadowed by its twentieth century elaboration, Marisa/Marissa. It derives from the phrase "Stella Maris," star of the sea, one of the many epithets of the Virgin Mary, and became familiar via the unseen (but unliked) character of sitcom Frasier's ex-sister-in-law.
  12. Ocean

    • Origin:

      English, nature name

    • Description:

      Ocean is a nature name that comes right out and states its meaning and association. Full of power and depth, Ocean is one of the fastest-rising baby names for both girls and boys, making the US Top 1000 for both genders in 2021. Oceane, the version that's trendy in France, was used for only 11 baby girls in the US in the same year. Ocean-lovers who want to be less obvious can choose such subtler names that mean ocean as Jennifer or Marissa, but coming right out and using Ocean is a perfectly valid way to go.
  13. Bay

    • Origin:

      English word, Old English

    • Meaning:

      "an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"

    • Description:

      One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May or Rae.
  14. Alcyone

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "kingfisher"

    • Description:

      Alcyone was the wife of Ceyx, but the happy pair angered the gods by calling each other Zeus and Hera. Ceyx's ship was sunk, Alcyone hurled herself into the sea, but then in sympathy for their grief the gods made the lovers halcyon birds or kingfishers.
  15. Nile

    • Origin:

      River name and color name

    • Meaning:

      "dark blue, indigo"

    • Description:

      Cool, serene name of the Egyptian river can make a fresh choice for a girl. The origin of river name Nile relates to the Arabic and ancient Hebrew word for dark blue or indigo; in ancient Egyptian, its literal meaning is river.
  16. Ula

    • Origin:

      Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "gem of the sea"

    • Description:

      Ula is among the unusual U names that may have a range of origins and meanings, from the Celtic one given here to its possibilities as a short form of Eulalia or Ursula. Ulla is a Scandinavian name usually an abbreviation of Ursula or Ulrika.
  17. Tora

    • Origin:

      Norse

    • Meaning:

      "thunder"

    • Description:

      Tora is the female version of Tor or Thor, the name of the Norse god of thunder. Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn chose it for her daughter.
  18. Naida

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "water nymph,"

    • Description:

      Possibility for a girl born under one of the water signs -- Cancer, Pisces, or Scorpio.
  19. Meris

    • Description:

      Meris is a delicate feminine name with classical origins. It likely derives from the Greek word 'meris' meaning 'part' or 'portion,' or possibly relates to Latin 'merus' meaning 'pure.' The name bears similarity to the more common Meredith, potentially serving as a streamlined alternative. Meris remains uncommon in contemporary usage, appealing to parents seeking something distinctive yet not completely unfamiliar. The name's brevity and soft ending create an elegant, gentle impression. In some cultures, it may connect to 'the sea' (Latin 'mare'), giving it nature-based undertones. Meris combines classical heritage with modern simplicity, offering a rare name that's nonetheless accessible and easy to pronounce.

  20. Bayou

    • Origin:

      Native American nature name

    • Description:

      A slow and sultry southern choice that's definitely cool for babies of either gender. While the word feels French and has its roots in 18th century French Louisiana, it derives from the Choctaw word bayuk, which means "small stream."