200+ Inspired Ocean Names for Babies

Sprightly name popular in Israel with beachy meaning and international flex.

Variant of Marianne or Maryann

A pretty and little-known Spanish smoosh name, combining Maria with Celia.

When British rocker Steven Patrick Morrissey decided to use his last name alone, it became a viable option for baby namers, a lot cooler than Morris or Maurice.

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 "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Is there anything more Australian than the beach and surfing? Tarni is the Kaurna word for wave/surf, and is sometimes used as a girls name in Australia. Other spellings that are sometimes seen include Tahnee and Tarney, but we prefer the more usual spelling.

Reef is a rare gender-neutral word name in the stylish ocean category. There were a handful of baby girls named Reef last years, and 60 baby boys — a not inconsiderable number.

Variant of Marybeth

As a Japanese name, Umina derives from umi, meaning "sea", combined with a range of other kanji characters.

An Italian word name that somehow feels incomplete in itself.

Pania is a possible alternative to Tania, if you want to go the New Zealand rather than Russian route.

Frilly but undeniably beautiful. The meaning of Mary 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).

Gwenora teeters on the line between unique gem and modern invention. But it's not a smoosh name fashioned from Gwen and Nora but an old Cornish form of Guinevere, like its much more famous sister Jennifer.

Pretty in a polka-dancing way.

Gyatso is a highly meaningful name in Tibetan Buddhism. It is added to the name of each Dalai Lama ⁠— the current one is Tenzin Gyatso. It is a translation of the title Dalai, which means "ocean" or "big" in Mongolian.

Slovene Mia cognate, rarely seen in the US.

Sounds like a displaced Dr. Seuss character.

One of many girl names containing that pretty "Mar" sound which are related to the sea. This one, though attractive, might tend to be confused with the more common Marina spelling.