Posts in category: Baby & toddler

Ocean-related names always have a lot of meaning behind them. What better name to give your baby (or fur-baby) than something which relates to the features of the sea – strong, mysterious and beautiful.

Many of the ocean-themed baby names are names that mean ocean in other languages. Some mythical ocean names refer to gods of the sea and others are related to the sea in different ways.

In researching this article I found that my own name, Jennifer, means ‘white wave’, which is something I’m thrilled about! I love having a water-themed name.

Names that mean ‘Ocean’

There are many baby names that mean water or ocean to choose from. Some of these aquatic names are obvious, but others have a hidden meaning and you wouldn’t know that these names mean ocean unless you looked it up.

Ocean-inspired baby names

I’ve split this list of ocean-themed names and ocean-related names into boy names, girl names and dog names. However, some names are unisex and some of the dog names can definitely also be used by humans so please don’t be offended if your ocean baby name is on the dog name list!

Also, if you have any more suggestions for sea related names or names meaning sea then please do let me know in the comments!

Ocean names for girls

This list includes girls’ names that mean ocean and other water-related girl names.

Giving your baby girl a name meaning ocean, sea or water is a great idea because the ocean is powerful, beautiful and mysterious – just like your daughter! There are so many beautiful water names for girls.

Whether you want a subtle ocean-themed girl name like Jennifer or a strong name like Ocean, take a look at this list of the best ocean names for girls.

• Aerwyna – Old English, means ‘friend of the sea’
• Amphitrite – In Greek mythology, Amphitrite was the wife of Poseidon and was said to be the personification of the sea
• Ariel – Thanks to Disney, probably one of the most popular mermaid names right now
• Asherah – This awesome name has an awesome meaning – ‘she who walks on the sea’
• Aukai – Hawaiian girls name that means ‘explorer of the sea’
• Avisa – Means ocean in Sankrit
• Beryl – Now considered a more old-fashioned name, these eventually get popular again and this means ‘sea-green jewel’ – one to consider if your girl has green eyes
• Cari – In Welsh, it means ‘beloved’ but it also has a Turkish meaning, ‘flows like water’
• Chantara – A more unusual name, this Thai word means ‘moon water’
• Coral – A classic ocean-inspired name that makes you think of reefs
• Cordelia – She is the Celtic goddess of the sea and also an Indian cruise line
• Daria – A variant of the Persian name ‘Darya’, which means ‘ocean’
• Delja – This Polish girls’ name means ‘daughter of the sea’
• Delmare – French in origin, and meaning ‘of the sea’
• Derya – This Turkish name is one of the prettiest names that mean ‘sea’
• Doris – This name is of Greek origin and means ‘gift of the ocean’
• Dwyn – A Welsh name, this power word means ‘wave’
• Ezili – This name comes from the Benin goddess of water and beauty
• Firtha – An old Scottish name that means ‘arm of the sea’
• Gali – In Hebrew, this name means ‘wave’.
• Ginevra – A name similar to Guinevere, this means ‘white wave’
• Iluka – This Aboriginal name means ‘by the sea’
• Itsaso – This Spanish girls’ name means ‘sea’
• Jennifer – Cornish for ‘white wave’
• Kailani – This pretty Hawaiian girls’ name means ‘sea and sky’
• Kaimana – This Hawaiian name means ‘the power of the ocean’. It’s suitable for both girls and boys.
• Kairi – This Japanese girls’ name means ‘ocean’
• Kendra – A pretty name meaning ‘water baby’
• Lana – A name from Hawaii, this means ‘afloat in calm waters’
• Manami – This Japanese name has several possible meanings, one of which is ‘ocean’
• Mar – Mar is the Spanish and Portuguese word for ‘sea’
• Marcelline – A pretty French name meaning ‘defender of the sea’
• Maree – This is a variation of Mary, and means ‘ocean tides’
• Marella – Latin for ‘star of the sea’
• Maren – Another Latin name, this time meaning ‘sea’
• Marina – As well as being a place where boats are kept, Marina is a Latin name meaning ‘from the sea’
• Marissa – A pretty alternative to Melissa that means ‘drop of the sea’
• Maya – Of all the girls’ names that mean ‘water’, this one is very popular right now
• Mayim – A Hebrew name, this is another that simply translates to ‘water’
• Meri – A name of Estonian and Finnish origin, meaning ‘sea’
• Mira – This beautiful Latin name has several meanings including ‘ocean’
• Moana – This Polynesian name means ‘sea’ and is also the title of a well-known Disney movie
• Morgan – This popular unisex Welsh name means ‘sea-born’. An alternative that’s just for girls would be Morgana.
• Morwenna – This is a Welsh girls’ name which means ‘waves of the sea’.
• Murial – An Irish name meaning ‘of the bright sea’
• Naia – A name from the Basque region that means ‘wave’ or ‘seafoam’
• Nerida – One of the most exotic sea names for girls, this name means ‘mermaid’ in Greek
• Nerissa – A Greek name meaning ‘from the sea’
• Nori – Japanese for seaweed, and also the nickname Kim Kardashian uses for her daughter North West
• Ocean – This strong name is perfect for a baby girl
• Onda – Italian for ‘wave’
• Ondine – A Latin name meaning ‘little wave’
• Pearl – English in origin, named for the birthstone found in the sea
• Sedna – A more unusual name, it is shared with the Goddess of the sea
• Sereia – The Portuguese word for ‘mermaid’
• Serena – The Latin origin of this name means ‘clear’ or ‘tranquil’
• Stellamaris – This is a girls’ name meaning ‘star of the sea’
• Tarni – A favourite in Australia for girls, this name means ‘wave’ or ‘surf’
• Thalassa – This unusual girls’ name means ‘ocean’ 
• Ula – This unusual name means ‘gem of the sea’
• Umiko – A Japanese girl’s name that means ‘child of the sea’
• Vanora – This unique girl’s name is Welsh in origin and means ‘white wave’
• Varuna – In Hindi, this is the god of water and oceans, and it’s a popular girls’ name
• Yara – A popular name from the recent Game of Thrones books and TV series, this Brazilian name means ‘water lady’
• Zarya – This Slavic name once belonged to an exotic water priestess

Ocean names for boys

This list includes boy names meaning ocean and other ocean-themed names for boys.

Water-inspired names are flowing back into fashion for boys and are especially popular with nature lovers. The ocean is strong, interesting and limitless – just like your baby son will surely be!

Ocean names for boys can be traditional or modern, common or unusual. There’s a sea-inspired name to suit every young man.

• Aalto – A Scandinavian boys’ name, this means ‘wave’
• Adrian – The name Adrian was originally used to refer to a person from the Adriatic Sea
• Alon – This sophisticated-sounding boys’ name means ‘waves’
• Arnav – This Hindi name means ‘ocean’
• Calder – Becoming more popular in the last 10 years, this name means ‘rocky water’
• Caspian – The Caspian Sea is an inland body of water between Europe and Asia
• Cove – Gaining popularity as a baby name in the US, a cove is a coastal inlet
• Delmar – Translated from Spanish, this boys’ name means ‘of the sea’
• Delmore – This French boys’ name means ‘of the sea’
• Deniz – This Turkish name means ‘sea’. It was traditionally a boys’ name but nowadays it’s unisex. Variations include Dennis and Denise.
• Douglas – This Scottish boys’ name means ‘black water’. It can be shortened to Doug.
• Dylan – Commonly used for boys, but can also be unisex, Dylan is a Welsh name meaning ‘son of the sea’
• Earwyn – Surprisingly common in the US, this name means ‘friend of the sea’
• Eldoris – The inspiration for Doris in the girls’ list above, and also meaning ‘of the sea’, but a great unisex version of the name
• Gyatso – This is a Buddhist boys’ name which means ‘ocean’
• Hali – This unisex name is of Greek origin and means ‘sea’.
• Heli – A Celtic unisex name which means ‘saltwater’ It’s found in the name of the Welsh town Pwllheli, which translates as ‘saltwater pool’
• Hurley – An Irish boys’ name meaning ‘sea tide’
• Irving – More common as a surname, this Scottish name means ‘sea friend’
• Jordan – This popular name means ‘to flow down’. It can also be used for girls
• Kai – A really popular name in the UK, this means ‘sea’ in its Hawaiian derivation.
• Kano – Mixed routes from Japan and Africa, this means ‘god of the water’
• Laguna – Another name that can be used for boys or girls, it’s Italian and means ‘pond’ or ‘lake’, which is similar to ocean
• Llyr – This Welsh name means ‘the sea’, but is virtually impossible to pronounce if you’re not Welsh
• Malik – This Arabic boys’ name means ‘wave’. It can also be spelled as Malek or Maliq.
• Marino – The male version of Marina, it means ‘of the sea’
• Maury – With a Latin heritage, this name means ‘sea channel’
• Moses – Really popular in the UK right now, this biblical name means ‘delivered from the water’
• Murdoch – Also spelled as Murdock, this was originally a nickname for a person associated with the sea
• Murray – An old Scottish name that means ‘settlement by the sea’
• Okeanos – In Greek mythology this was the body of water that was believed to surround the earth 
• River – This is a great name because all rivers lead to the ocean
• Trent – In Latin, Trent means ‘gushing water’
• Wade – You can ‘wade’ through the sea, so this is surely one of the best subtle water names for boys.

Ocean names for dogs

This list of dog names is for boy and girl dogs. However, this list of mostly unisex names can certainly also be used for human babies as well as fur babies!

The breed of dog or puppy that you choose will likely influence the name that you choose for your dog. Big strong dogs might suit strong ocean names like Captain whereas smaller breeds might be more suited to cute sea names like Pasha.

• Azure – The colour of deep blue water, like the sea. Great for female dogs
• Bardo – A name with mixed routes, but in several cultures, it means ‘water’
• Blue – Another simple option named for the colour of the sea
• Bo – A great short name for a dog, it means ‘wave’ in Chinese
• Captain – This ship-related name would be great for a boy dog
• Chop – While it doesn’t inspire calm, a name that is related to choppy waters
• Crest – This short, sharp name is like the crest of a wave
• Cruise – Well why not? It can definitely work as a cool name for a dog.
• Knot – Another strong name, this relates to the speed travelled on the ocean
• Marley – The name of the naughty labrador in the movie ‘Marley & Me’. Marley means ‘pleasant seaside meadow’
• Marvin – This boy dog’s name means ‘sea hill’ in Welsh. An alternative with the same meaning is Mervin.
• Merlin – Perhaps a bit too wizardly for a human, this name which means ‘sea fortress’ is perfect for a dog
• Murphy – This jaunty Irish name means ‘sea warrior’
• Murray – Meaning ‘settlement by the sea’
• Nen – Short and snappy, this Egyptian name means ‘ancient waters’
• Neptune – This mythical ocean name comes from the god of the sea according to the Romans
• Nixie – A great girl dog name, Nixie is a Maori name that means ‘reflections on the water’
• Pasha – This unisex name means ‘of the ocean’
• Poseidon – Greek god of the seas, and a great one to shorten to ‘Po’.
• Reef – This relaxing name probably works best for boy dogs, but could be unisex
• Siren – In Greek mythology, sirens were alluring mermaid creatures. Now, it makes a good name for a female dog.
• Tallulah – A name with both Irish and Native American heritage, this means leaping water – great for a bouncy female dog.
• Tiberius – The Tiber is a river in Italy, not strictly the sea, but this would make a great name for a big male dog.
• Tide – This is another strong name that would work great for a dog
• Triton – Greek god Triton was the son of Neptune
• Zale – A powerful name that means ‘strength of the sea’

To conclude

Whether you’re thinking of a name for a baby boy, girl, dog, cat or other pet, I hope that you’ve found inspiration in this list of ocean and water-related names.

Can you think of any other ocean, water, sea or otherwise aquatic names? Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comments!

Related posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

If you’re planning a cruise with your toddler, then one of the biggest concerns is their safety. And if you’re constantly worrying about your little one, you’re simply not going to have fun.

I’ve been cruising since my son was six months old and I’ve done it plenty of times with toddlers in tow. So I know exactly how you feel.

I’m not saying you can’t have a cabin with a balcony with young children. But if you do, you’ll have to be as vigilant as a hawk. So, read on and I’ll help you decide which is the best stateroom to choose for your family.

What Are Cruise Ship Balconies Like?

Cruise ship balconies are usually pretty small, with just enough space for two chairs and sometimes, if you’re lucky, a little table or footstool. The side is made of glass that comes up to waist height, and if you look down, the drop will be between four and 20 storeys, either into the sea, or onto a promenade deck.

People do go overboard from cruise ship balconies several times per year, and it’s almost always fatal. It’s important to note, though, that these instances are pretty much always caused by passengers who jump on purpose, or are doing something silly, like climbing.

You can’t fall off a cruise ship balcony by accident. But If you’re standing up holding a toddler near the edge, or letting them climb up on furniture, then the risk of them falling overboard is very real.

What Parents Need to Be Aware Of

Cruise lines go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their guests, but their measures are not foolproof. And as you’ll know, toddlers, are as nifty as they come.

Here are the things that you need to know about cruise ship balcony rooms, so you know what to expect if you book one…

1. The height of balcony rails

Waist-heigh glass barriers may seem impossible. But that’s not always the case, and you should never assume that your child won’t be able to climb over. Toddlers are very curious as you’ll know, and they may find a foothold somewhere that you haven’t spotted.

While most modern cruise ships have balcony barriers made of glass, some do have either solid metal or metal railings. The solid metal balcony fronts usually have a ledge that a child could use to step up, and the metal bars of a railing make them the easiest to climb.

2. Balcony furniture

A chair or a table may seem like an exciting climbing frame to our little explorers. But once a child has that added height, it becomes all to easy for them to go overboard.

You can ask your cabin steward to remove the furniture from your balcony, but this isn’t always possible. On our cruise on P&O Cruises Iona, we tried to bring the chairs in from the balcony, but they were simply too wide to fit through the door.

3. Balcony doors

Cruise cabins usually have glass doors that open onto the balcony. Most have a lock at the top of the door that’s tough for a toddler to reach unless they get creative with a chair.

However, the locks aren’t always at the top, sometimes they’re much lower. As you can see in this photo that I took onboard MSC Virtuosa, my six-year-old was able to open the balcony door lock with ease.

The Golden Rule

There’s a golden rule you’ve got to stick to when you’re cruising with your little ones. Never, ever leave a young child unattended with access to a balcony. Even if you use the bathroom, make sure that there’s another adult watching your child so they can’t sneak out there.

Of course, the exact age at which you can trust your child to behave sensibly on a balcony depends on the child. I could trust my eight-year-old daughter not to do anything dangerous with 100% confidence. But when I remind my six-year-old son not to climb on the balcony footstool, he’ll likely forget five minutes later and do it anyway.

Other Areas of Cruise Ships That Can Be Dangerous For Toddlers

Aside from your cabin, there are several public areas that could prove to be hazardous for your child. It’s important to be aware of these and take necessary precautions.

1. Railings in Public Areas

Out on deck, the barriers are usually chest height to an adult and made of glass. Sometimes, they’re over head height. This makes them impossible to climb, unless there’s furniture involved.

However, many older cruise ships also have horizontal metal railing instead of glass, making it much easier for small adventurers to climb.

River cruise ships are probably the most dangerous, with metal guardrails only reaching an adult’s waist height. These would be very easy to climb, and this is one of the reasons why most river cruise lines do not allow children under five on board.

You may remember the horror story when a grandfather accidentally dropped his grandchild through an 11th-storey window on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2019. He lifted the 18-month-old toddler up to what he believed was a wall of glass, but it was actually an open window. The child fell through his hands and sadly died.

2. Swimming Pools

Most cruise ships don’t allow toddlers who aren’t yet toiletry trained to use the pools. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t dangerous to young kids.

When my son was two, he was walking around the edge of a very deep swimming pool on P&O Cruises’ Britannia. I was walking right behind him. In the blink of an eye, he dove head-first into the water and immediately sank down to the bottom. I had no idea that a child would sink so fast! 

Frantically, I reached down and plunged my whole arm into the water to grab his ankle and haul him out.

Luckily, my son was absolutely fine and somehow not upset at all. But I was very shaken, and also felt very lucky that he was underwater for just a couple of seconds.

Depending on the cruise line, the pools on your ship may or may not have lifeguards. But even if they do, the pools are often very busy, so you should always keep a very close eye on your toddler near the water.

3. Bars and Restaurants

Your little one might think it’s all fun and games at the bars and restaurants on a cruise ship, but it could be a recipe for danger. People come and go, toting trays laden with food and drink. One unexpected toddler dash could lead to someone tripping and spilling a hot drink or smashing a glass in the vicinity of your child.

While you’re enjoying your food and drinks, it’s vital that you don’t let your children run around. Be sure to pack some tabletop toys and activities that will keep them entertained between courses.

4. Stairs

The stairs on cruise ships can be incredibly dangerous for little ones. The problem is that they often have gaps in between each step. While these gaps may be small to an adult, they could be huge to a toddler, so they could fall through.

As each deck is quite heigh, a flight of stairs may have 15 or more steps, and they’re sometimes made of marble, crystal or other materials that won’t give a soft landing.

5. Elevators

Ready for another tale from my accident-prone son?

A couple of years ago we were in the elevator on an MSC Cruise ship when he let out an almighty shriek. As the elevator doors opened, his finger had got sucked into the side and trapped.

We frantically pressed the button to close the doors in an attempt to free his finger, but they didn’t move. All that was left to do was to pull his finger out with force. Luckily, it wasn’t too badly damaged, but it was red and swollen for a few days. It could have been much worse. 

6. Falling out of bed

Most cruise lines allow you to borrow a travel cot for your baby. But once they’re over a year old, you may find that they’re simply to big for it, or they try to climb out, which can be dangerous.

At that point, you’ll have to put them in a full-size bed. So it’s important to know what kind of beds are in the room when you book. Your best option would be a sofa bed.

If they’re likely to fall out you should bring your own bed guard from home, tuck a pool noodle under the sheet, or place some spare pillows on the floor. Alternatively, you could bring an inflatable ‘Ready-Bed’ for them to sleep on the floor.

Some cabins have Pullman beds that come down from the ceiling. These sometimes have age restrictions, but not always. When we cruised on MSC Virtuosa, our two-year-old slept up on the top bunk.

That bed had a large guard rail, but not all do. Here’s an example of what extra beds may look like on a cruise…

If, when you arrive, you’re at all concerned about the safety of where your toddler sleeps, you should be sure to let your stateroom attendant know.

Should You Book A Balcony Stateroom With A Toddler?

Cruise ship balcony staterooms do have their advantages for parents with young kids. It’s a private space where you can relax while your kids nap, with the fresh air from the sea making you feel alive.

But, if you feel that you wouldn’t be able to relax with a balcony, then an ocean view stateroom might be a better bet. As well as being safer, they’re more affordable and come with enough room and amenities for a comfortable stay.

The lure of a balcony stateroom can feel strong, but remember, the child’s safety comes first. Logically, an Ocean View stateroom might just hit that right balance of budget and safety.

My Recommendation

When it comes to cruising with kids, it’s all about ensuring they have a memorable time while staying safe. If you’re torn about which type of room to book, then make sure you read my article about why I (almost) always choose an inside cabins for a family cruise. 

Choose your accommodation wisely, keep a keen eye on your kids, and you’re good to go. After all, a safe cruise is a happy cruise. And as a parent, that’s all we truly want.

Related Posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me