There's just something so soothing and relaxing about the ocean. For many people, the ocean is their happy place and when they get that equally happy news that they're expecting it's the water they turn to for some baby name inspiration. Even if a soon-to-be mom and dad's intention isn't to get the ultimate chill baby name, some parents are transfixed by the waves, the sand, and the ocean wildlife — and choose baby names accordingly. But who can blame them? They want their baby's name to have that same gentle and earthly vibe.
Of course, not all baby names are created equal. Some baby names ride the waves of trends and others are just plain boring or are too common. But the beauty of an ocean-inspired baby name is that guaranteed no one else will have them. And uncommon is always a good thing when it comes to finding the perfect name. Just imagine a little Yara or Mira growing up to realize that their name connects them to something so big and expansive like the ocean? We can only imagine how meaningful their names might seem then. So we decided to put on our detective hat and search far and wide for some truly great ocean-inspired nuggets. Take a look at the list and see if any of these beautiful baby names truly embody the freedom and beauty of the sea.
MEREDITH
The origins of this name are up for debate, but what's clear is that it has deep connections to the sea. Meredith is believed to come from the Welsh elements mór, "sea" and differaf, meaning "I protect" so therefore you could take it to mean, "sea protector" or "protector of the sea."
DARYA
Darya is another sea-inspired name that is sure to be a draw to some parents looking for a beautiful ocean name. Originally, the moniker was a Persian name that according to Behind the Name means "sea" or "ocean."
ARIEL
It should be clear why this name made it to our list. Little Mermaid vibes aside, Ariel is derived from the Hebrew 'arī'ēl, which means "lion of God" and is used as the symbolic name for Jerusalem.
BERYL
As shining as the blues and greens of the sea, Beryl is an earthly baby name. Taken from the pale green gemstone, which reflects the emeralds and aquamarines of the water. It's also taken from the Greek bēryllos, which means "sea-green gem."
GENEVIEVE
Many translations define this name by its Celtic roots, which loosely translates to "girl" or "woman." But Genevieve can also translate to "white wave." Other sweet variations are Ginny, Genny, Gennie, or Jenny.
YARA
The name Yara just rolls off the tongue, right? It seems so natural and carefree. So it shouldn't be a surprise that this name has oceanic connections. The name means "mermaid" or "siren" — we're sure this name will call out to a lot of parents-to-be.
ROSEMARY
It might not be obvious what the name Rosemary has to the ocean, but we swear the connection is real. The name comes from the herb of the same moniker which is derived from the Latin ros marīnus, meaning "dew of the sea." How lovely is that?!
MIRA
A name that has been steadily rising in the baby name charts, Mira has found popularity both here in the US and across the world. In Sanskrit the name means "sea" or "ocean." Other variations are Meera and Myra.
CHELSEA
We know, we know. This name is so on-point it even has the word -sea inside of it. Chelsea was originally an Old English name that meant "a port of ships," or "chalk landing place," which is probably why the name was used for a shipping port in New York City.
MARIN
A German variant on the name Maria, which was derived from the Latin Mary, the name Marin originated as the Hebrew Miryām, which means "sea of bitterness, sea of sorrow." How meaningful!
URSULA
Hands down, Ursula is the best Disney villain — come on now, we all know it's true. If The Little Mermaid isn't reason enough to take a second look at this name, consider that the name is derived from Middle Latin and is a diminutive of the Latin ursa, meaning "she-bear."
CALYPSO
A name taken from Greek mythology, Calypso is a beautiful and totally quirky baby name. As the story goes, Calypso also was a nymph who fell in love with Odysseus and kept him captive on her island.
HALI
Hali was a particularly popular name in the 1990s but as we all know, the '90s are totally cool right now! Originally, Hali was an Old Greek name meaning "from the sea." And it can be pronounced as either HAL-ee or HAY-lee.
JORDAN
Jordan is a great baby name and can be used for either gender, but it's interesting to know that the name is derived from the Hebrew yarden "to flow down, descend" and was originally used in the Middle Ages to denote a child baptized in holy water from the Jordan River.
NAIA
Some parents might be seeking a name that's truly unusual and in the United States the name Naia isn't common. Spain is a different story. In fact, Naia is a Basque name that means "foam of the wave."
CORAL
Below the briny surface lays the beauty of ocean wildlife and Coral is another one of the sea's treasures. Coral are pinkish calcareous skeletons secreted by marine polyps, which are sometimes used in jewelry.
AZURE
The beauty of the sea is often found in its clear blue color and the name Azure pays tribute to that. "Azur" was the word for blue in Old French and Azure is often used to describe both the sky and the sea. It also brings to mind the French Riviera, the Côte d'Azur as it's known in French.
