Ocean and Water Baby Names

Ocean names bring to mind open water, salt air and movement, and they suit both boys and girls. Several come from Latin, where mare meant sea: Marina means of the sea, and Marin and Maren grew from the same root. Sabrina is the old Latin name of the River Severn, linked in legend to a nymph who gave the river its name. Coral names the living reefs of warm seas, and Ocean itself is a simple modern word name.

Hawaii has given this list some of its warmest choices. Kai means sea, Makai refers to the direction toward the ocean, and Kailani joins the Hawaiian words for sea and sky. Arnav is a Sanskrit word for the ocean, and Caspian takes its name from the great inland sea between Europe and Asia. English adds names drawn from water and sailing, such as River, Brooke, Saylor and Sailor.

Some of these names lean one way: Marina, Sabrina and Coral are used mostly for girls, and Arnav and Caspian mostly for boys, while Kai, River and Ocean are shared. If you want a name that works across the whole of life, Marina and Kai are established and easy to spell. Word names like Sailor and Ocean feel free-spirited and may suit a middle name as well as a first name.