Names That Mean Water

Water names range from the obvious to the hidden. River, Rain, Ocean, Brooke, and Brooks say exactly what they mean, and Rio is the Spanish and Portuguese word for river. Wells refers to a spring or well and began as an English surname, while Beck comes from a Norse word for a stream, still used for small rivers in northern England.

Many English surnames describe a place near water. Maxwell is often explained as a stream belonging to an early landowner, and Beverly means a stream where beavers lived. Kyle comes from a Gaelic word for a narrow strait of water, common in Scottish place names. Lamar is linked to French words for a pond or pool.

Arabic contributes several lovely choices. Nahla refers to a drink of water, Bilal is associated with moisture and refreshment, and Rayan is linked to the idea of being well watered and to one of the gates of paradise in Islamic tradition. If you are choosing among these, consider how the name will pair with your surname, since short names like Beck and Wells work especially well with longer last names.