Names That Mean Sea

Familiar-but-new and ultra-rare (for girls anyway), Zealand has a lot going for it with its spunky Z initial and globe-trotting vibes. Sparingly used for boys since the 2000s and even more occasionally used for girls since 2010, YouTube family The Labrants brought this name into the spotlight when they called their son Zealand in 2019.

Queen Nehelenia is a villain in the Sailor Moon anime franchise. Her name is likely a reference to both the mineral nepheline — as many Sailor Moon characters are named after minerals — and Nehalennia, a German or Celtic goddess.

Terminally outmoded.

Hawaiian names have officially made their way to the mainland, with Leilani, Kehlani, Alani, Kailani, and Kaylani all ranking within the Top 300. Now Kahlani — one of several pseudo-Hawaiian names popping up across the country — has entered the US Top 1000 in 2023.

Highly unusual water name -- and actor Colin surname -- with a Scottish burr. Firth derives from the Old Norse word fjord.

Evocative Spanish city name that would make a one-of-a-kind given name.

In Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, Marinell is a knight and the son of a water nymph. He is wounded in battle against the valiant female knight Britomart.

The title of a Maori poem and also used to reference Mary, mother of Jesus, adapted from the Latin Marian title Stella Maris "star of the sea".

An Old Norse name derived from the Irish Muircheartach "sea warrior". Kjartan is a modern variant.

In The Lord of the Rings, Eärendil is a half-Elven seafarer whose ship turns into a star. J.R.R. Tolkien based his name off of the Anglo-Saxon Ēarendel, a variation of Aurvandill, a Germanic mythological character.

Friendly Slavic rarity.

Variant of Maris

A light and pretty name used in several Eastern European countries, which may be a form of Miriam or Mary.

Diminutive of Welsh Maredudd, the original (masculine) form of Meredith.

Scottish variant of Muirenn

Khalani debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2020 thanks to the influence of Khalani Simon — known as Lani Love — a child model and budding star.

The name of Kylie Jenner's new fashion brand, Khy, could be the next hit spelling variation of Kai. The multicultural mini name has spawned many alternatives, including Kye, Ky, and Khai — introduced by Gigi Hadid.

Morgelyn is a Cornish compound name derived from the Welsh mor, meaning "sea" and kelyn, "holly." Sea holly is another name for the Eryngium plant, which showcases prickly purple blooms, making Morgelyn a botanical name.

Nehalennia is a Celtic or Germanic goddess depicted with marine symbols, as well as a companion dog at her feet.