​
​
Advanced Search

Merfolk Names

  1. Bo

    • Origin:

      Norse nickname

    • Meaning:

      "to live"

    • Description:

      This tiny but punchy name has multiple origins. It stands strong alone, but could be short for numerous names including Bonnie and Bodhi. In Mandarin Chinese, Bo means "wave".
  2. Llyr

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "the sea"

    • Description:

      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 outside Wales, you may wish to consider the Irish alternative Lir, which has the same meaning and an easier sound.
  3. Darya

    • Origin:

      Russian or Persian, variation of Daria or feminine form of Darius

    • Meaning:

      "kingly; possessing goodness; the sea"

    • Description:

      The beguiling Darya is the name of a character in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. As a Russian name, it's a spelling variation of Daria, while in Iran, it's a girl's name that means "the sea".
  4. Ona

    • Origin:

      Lithuanian variation of Anna, Catalan diminutive of Mariona

    • Meaning:

      "grace; wave; bitter; wished-for child"

    • Description:

      One of those names with a wide array of meanings across different cultures; it's the Lithuanian form of Anna, for instance, and William Blake used it as the name of one of his mysterious, godlike characters. But it's found major popularity in Spain, where it's just outside the Top 50. It makes the Top 10 in Catalonia, being both a diminutive of Mariona and the word for "wave".
  5. Moana

    • Origin:

      Maori, Samoan

    • Meaning:

      "deep ocean, sea"

    • Description:

      This Maori name, often heard in New Zealand, is an attractive, evocative choice for lovers of the ocean made famous – perhaps too famous – by the Disney heroine. Moana was also an alternate name for the heroine Ofelia in Pan's Labyrinth. Moana may also be a color name for a deep ocean blue ("lanu moana"). Moana and other Disney Princess Names are the subject of a featured blog.
  6. Meri

    • Origin:

      Finnish; Maori

    • Meaning:

      "sea; Mary"

    • Description:

      Upbeat name that cheers you as soon as you hear it. One famous bearer is Maori feminist Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia.
  7. Nereus

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "water"

    • Description:

      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.
  8. Undine

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "little wave"

    • Description:

      Mythological water spirit with the more common spelling of Ondine, heroine of an Edith Wharton novel.
  9. Muir

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "dweller near the moor"

    • Description:

      A common family name in Scotland, occasionally used as a first.
  10. Deniz

    • Origin:

      Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "sea"

    • Description:

      A super popular nature name in its native Turkey, currently Top 50 for both boys and girls there.
  11. Oceane

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "ocean"

    • Description:

      Oceane (oh-see-EN) has been one of the chicest names in France for several years, ranking in the French Top 50. This is a sophisticated name that could easily cross the ocean, and is much more stylish than the English Ocean or Oceana.
  12. Poseidon

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Description:

      This version of the sea god's name may be more ready for prime time than the Roman version, Neptune -- slightly.
  13. Neptune

    • Origin:

      Roman god of the sea, freshwater springs, and horses.

    • Description:

      This Roman mythology (and planet) name would be very hard to handle. It derives from a root meaning cloud.
  14. Marinus

    • Description:

      Marinus is a masculine name of Latin origin meaning 'of the sea' or 'marine.' This classical name has historical significance, being borne by several early Christian saints and a pope. Popular predominantly in the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries, Marinus conveys a sense of strength and connection to the ocean. The name experienced its peak popularity in the early 20th century in Northern European countries but has remained relatively uncommon in English-speaking regions. It offers the friendly nickname Rinus in Dutch communities. Marinus carries a dignified, scholarly quality while maintaining its nautical associations, making it appealing for families with seafaring traditions or those seeking a distinguished yet uncommon name with classical roots.

  15. Nereo

    • Origin:

      Italian and Spanish form of Nereus, Ancient Greek

    • Meaning:

      "water"

    • Description:

      The name of the father of the sea nymphs is derived from the Greek neros meaning "water" and was borne by a 1st century Roman saint. A sea-inspired choice, Nereo is an alternative form, used occasionally among Italian and Spanish speakers.
  16. Sedna

    • Origin:

      Native American, Inuit

    • Meaning:

      "goddess of the sea"

    • Description:

      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."
  17. Asherah

    • Origin:

      Sumerian

    • Meaning:

      "she who treads on the sea"

    • Description:

      Asherah is probably one of the most ancient of mother goddess symbols, recorded in the pantheons of several civilisations from the tenth century BCE. As the mother to innumerable gods and goddesses, she is often depicted as having the capacity to walk on water, which makes Asherah an excellent choice for a baby born under one of the water signs of the zodiac, including names for Scorpio babies, as well as those born under Pisces and Cancer.
  18. Nereida

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sea nymph"

    • Description:

      More intriguing than the more familiar form Nerida, this name is perfect for a beach baby, or a baby born under a water sign.
  19. Mar

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "sea"

    • Description:

      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.
  20. Alda

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Aldo, German, or Old Norse

    • Meaning:

      "old or wave"

    • Description:

      Alda's brother name Aldo has been a mainstay of the U.S. popularity chart for decades now, and the related Alden is soaring up as well. This version has never really caught on. (Maybe it's the association with Alan Alda: great actor, unlikely namesake for a little girl.) However, there is possible hope now that Alba and Alma are on the rise. Aida and Arden are more familiar alternatives.