Over 250 Names That Mean Water For Boys And Girls
Searching for a name with a special meaning is a common practice among expectant parents. With water being a vital element in many cultures and religions, it's no surprise that names that mean water or ocean are a popular choice.
Water has long been associated with various symbolic meanings, such as:
Birth
Fertility
Refreshment
Circulation
Purity
Life
In this post, we've compiled a list of over 250 names meaning water for both boys and girls. You'll find a variety of options, including river names, ocean names, sea names, lake names, names for water goddesses, and more!
Water Names For Boys
Including (origins) and “meanings”
The names in this post were researched using websites like BabyCenter to find their origins and meanings. Keep in mind, some names have different meanings in several languages.
A
Aaberg
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: “river”
Aalto
Origin: Finnish
Meaning: “wave”
Aberforth
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “from the river"
Adrian
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “sea; water”
Aedre
Origin: Anglo-Saxon
Meaning: “stream”
Aegir
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: “sea; ocean”
Aenon
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “fountain”
Afon
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “river”
Ahumai
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “a meadow of waters”
Alon
Origin: Philippines
Meaning: “waves”
Alton
Origin: English
Meaning: “town at the source of the river”
Alun
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “a Welsh river”
Andreus
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “son of river Peneus”
Antaeus
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “son of the earth and the sea”
Recommended: Antaeus is also on our list of earthy names for girls and boys
Aquarius
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “water bearer”
Arledge
Origin: English
Meaning: “dweller at the rabbit lake”
Arnav
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “ocean”
Arno
Origin: Italian
Meaning: “flowing water”
Arnon
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “river”
Arroyo
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: “water channel”
Atwater
Origin: English
Meaning: “at the water”
B
Bach
Origin: German
Meaning: “dweller near the brook”
Recommended: Bach is also on our list of short names for boys
Bali
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “strength”
Banks
Origin: English
Meaning: “a person who lives near the riverside or hillside”
Bardo
Origin: German, Aboriginal, Tibetan
Meaning: “water”
Bay
Origin: English
Meaning: “a small sea inlet”
Bayou
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “small, slow stream”
Beck
Origin: English
Meaning: “one living beside a small stream”
Beckett
Origin: English
Meaning: “little brook”
Recommended: Beckett is also on our list of handsome names for a baby boy
Beckham
Origin: English
Meaning: “homestead by the stream”
Bered
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “hail”
Bergen
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: "the meadow among the mountains"
Blackwell
Origin: English
Meaning: “black well; black stream”
Bo
Origin: Chinese
Meaning: “wave”
Bolivar
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: “mill at the riverside”
Bourne
Origin: English
Meaning: “one who lives near a stream”
Bradford
Origin: English
Meaning: “wide river crossing”
Bradman
Origin: English
Meaning: "at the wide river"
Brishon
Origin: Gypsy
Meaning: “born in the rain”
Brodny
Origin: Slavic
Meaning: “person dwelling near a stream”
Brooks
Origin: English, German
Meaning: "water; small stream"
Burbank
Origin: English
Meaning: "riverbank where burrs grow”
C
Cain
Origin: English
Meaning: “clear water”
Calder
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “from the wild water”
Callan
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: “flowing water”
Carlow
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “four-part lake”
Cary
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “pleasant stream”
Caspian
Origin: English
Meaning: “the Caspian Sea”
Chilton
Origin: English
Meaning: “a town by the river”
Clyde
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “the river Clyde”
Coburn
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “stony river”
Conway
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “sacred river”
Cove
Origin: English
Meaning: “the beauty of the ocean”
Creswell
Origin: English
Meaning: “a spring; a stream”
D
Dalas
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “valley of water”
Dallan
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “valley of water”
Dathan
Origin: American
Meaning: “a spring; fountain”
Dax
Origin: English
Meaning: “water”
Deniz
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: “flowing sea”
Destan
Origin: French
Meaning: “by the still waters”
Devereaux
Origin: French
Meaning: “from the Eure River”
Dewy
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “bearing droplets of water”
Douglas
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “black water”
Dougy
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “dark water”
Recommended: Dougy is listed as another form of Doug on our 4 letter names list
Dover
Origin: Celtic
Meaning: “the waters”
Dylan
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “son of the sea”
E
Eaton
Origin: English
Meaning: “river enclosure”
Ecthelion
Origin: Fictional character
Meaning: “of the fountain”
Emlyn
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “from the waterfall”
Evros
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “the Evros River”
F
Fen
Origin: English
Meaning: “low land covered wholly or partly by water”
Fenton
Origin: English
Meaning: “marsh town”
Firth
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “arm of the sea”
Fisher
Origin: English
Meaning: “fisherman”
Fisk
Origin: English
Meaning: “fisherman”
Fjord
Origin: Norwegian
Meaning: “lake-like body of water; where one fares through”
Fleetwood
Origin: English
Meaning: “woods with a stream”
Ford
Origin: English
Meaning: "shallow place where water can be crossed"
G
Gafar
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “stream”
Gale
Origin: English
Meaning: “sea storm”
Recommended: Gale is also on our list of names for lightning, thunder, or storm
Ghanambu
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “cloud water; showers from cloud”
Recommended: Ghanambu is also on our list of names meaning cloud
Guadalupe
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: “river of the wolf”
Gully
Origin: English
Meaning: “channel in the earth made by running water”
H
Harbor
Origin: English
Meaning: “coastal place where ships come to shelter”
Hiawatha
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “he makes rivers”
Holmes
Origin: English
Meaning: “island in the river”
Hudson
Origin: English
Meaning: “the Hudson River”
Recommended: Hudson is also on our list of strong and powerful boy names
Hurley
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “tide of the sea”
I
Innes
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “from the river island”
Irvin
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “fresh water”
Irving
Origin: English
Meaning: “green river; sea friend”
Recommended: Irving is also on our list of names that mean friend
J
Jabal
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “a stream; water”
Jorah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “first rain”
Jordan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “the Jordan River”
Jafar
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “stream; creek”
K
Kai
Origin: Polynesian
Meaning: “sea”
Kallan
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: “flowing water”
Kallol
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “large waves”
Kano
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “water god”
Kaveri
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “river”
Kawai
Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: “coming from water”
Kelby
Origin: English
Meaning: “dweller at the farm by the stream”
Kelvin
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “narrow river”
Kenn
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “bright water”
Kent
Origin: English
Meaning: “water”
Kye
Origin: American
Meaning: “ocean”
Kyle
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “straight of water”
L
Lachlan
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “the one from the land of lakes”
Laech
Origin: English
Meaning: “lives by the ocean”
Laiken
Origin: English
Meaning: “from the lake”
Lake
Origin: English
Meaning: “body of water”
Leith
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “flowing water”
Leven
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “place of the flood”
Lincoln
Origin: English
Meaning: “a settlement by water”
Lir
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “Irish god of the sea”
Llyr
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “sea”
Loch
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “lake or sea inlet”
M
Malik
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “wave of the ocean”
Marin
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “of the sea”
Marius
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “sea”
Marlow
Origin: English
Meaning: “lake remains”
Marsh
Origin: English
Meaning: “a place by the lake”
Maxwell
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “great stream”
Merton
Origin: English
Meaning: “town by the lake”
Monroe
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “mouth of the Roe River”
Morrissey
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “the choice of the sea”
Mortimer
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “dwells by the still water”
Moses
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “saved from the water”
Moss
Origin: English
Meaning: “saved from the water”
Murphy
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “sea warrior”
Murray
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “lord of the sea”
N
Nalin
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “lotus; water”
Nebraska
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “flat water”
Nen
Origin: Egyptian
Meaning: “ancient waters”
Neptune
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “god of water”
Nereus
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “water; god of the sea”
Nerio
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “sea traveler; water”
Nile
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “river valley”
Ninad
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “gentle sound of water”
O
Ocean
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “sea”
Odine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “little wave”
Ohio
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “great water”
Orwell
Origin: English
Meaning: “the river branch”
P
Paroo
Origin: Hindu
Meaning: “flow of water”
Pavati
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “clear water”
Pelagius
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “the sea”
Poseidon
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “god of water”
Pulin
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “sandy riverbank”
R
Rayan
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “land that is rich in water”
Redford
Origin: English
Meaning: “from the red ford”
Reef
Origin: German
Meaning: “a bar of sand or rock beneath the water”
Rilian
Origin: German
Meaning: “small stream”
Rio
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: “river”
Ryver
Origin: English
Meaning: “river”
S
Sachiel
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “angel of water”
Sagara
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “the sea”
Saylor
Origin: German
Meaning: “boat man”
Salil
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “water”
Seaton
Origin: English
Meaning: “town by the sea”
Severin
Origin: English
Meaning: “river in England”
Strom
Origin: German
Meaning: “stream”
Struan
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “stream”
T
Tahoe
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “edge of the lake”
Thames
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “dark river”
Trent
Origin: English
Meaning: “the flooder”
W
Wade
Origin: English
Meaning: “at the river crossing”
Z
Zale
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “sea legs”
Aquatic Names For Girls
A
Adria
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “sea or water”
Adriana
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “sea”
Alda
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: “heavy swelling wave”
Alma
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “on the water”
Amaya
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “night rain”
Anahita
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “goddess of the waters”
Aqua
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “one from water”
Ara
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “brings rain”
Asita
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “River Yamuna”
Avonlea
Origin: English
Meaning: “field near the river”
B
Bayou
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “a small stream”
Beverly
Origin: English
Meaning: “dweller of the beaver stream”
Breena
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “little drop of water”
Brenna
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “moisture; drop”
Brooke
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “small stream”
Recommended: Brooke is also on our hippie names for girls list
C
Cascade
Origin: English
Meaning: “waterfall”
Chamiree
Origin: French
Meaning: “crooked stream”
Chandania
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “river”
Chantara
Origin: Thai
Meaning: “moon water”
Cherith
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “winter stream”
Coral
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “underwater semi-precious sea growth”
Recommended: Coral is also on our list of names that mean red
Cordelia
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “daughter of the sea”
Coventina
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “water goddess”
D
Darya
Origin: Iranian
Meaning: “sea”
Dayla
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “to draw water”
Delle
Origin: Old English
Meaning: “by the water”
Recommended: Delle is also on our list of one-syllable girl names
Delta
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “triangle of land formed by water”
Derya
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: “sea”
Doria
Origin: Persian
Meaning: “sea”
Doris
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “gift of the ocean”
Dwyn
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “wave”
E
Evian
Origin: French
Meaning: “spa town in France”
Eyre
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “friend of the sea”
F
Firth
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “arm of the sea”
G
Gal
Origin: Israeli
Meaning: “wave”
Ginevra
Origin: Italian
Meaning: “white wave”
Guinevere
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “white wave”
H
Hali
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “sea”
Harbor
Origin: English
Meaning: “a place on the coast for ships and boats”
J
Jenna
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “white wave”
Jennifer
Origin: English
Meaning: “white wave”
Jordan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “to flow down”
K
Kaimana
Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: “power of the ocean”
Recommended: Kaimana is also on our list of girl names that mean powerful
Kendall
Origin: English
Meaning: “valley of the River Kent”
Recommended: Kendall is also on our list of girl city names
Kendra
Origin: Anglo-Saxon
Meaning: “clear water”
Kishi
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “beach; seashore”
L
Laguna
Origin: Italian
Meaning: “pond or lake”
Lana
Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: “calm as still waters'“
Locklyn
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “lake land”
Loire
Origin: French
Meaning: “a river in France”
Lucerne
Origin: Swiss
Meaning: “lake”
Lupeta
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: “wolf river”
Lynn
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “pool or stream”
Lyre
Origin: English
Meaning: “fork in the river”
M
Maayan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “spring of water”
Marella
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “shining sea”
Marilla
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “shining sea”
Marina
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “from the sea”
Maris
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “of the sea”
Maya
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “water”
Recommended: Maya is also on our list of the best Black Women Names
Mayim
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “water”
Meredith
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “protector of the ocean”
Mira
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “ocean”
Misty
Origin: American
Meaning: “covered in mist”
Moana
Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: “ocean or sea”
Morgan
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “white sea”
Moselle
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “drawn from the water”
Muriel
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “sea bright”
N
Nahla
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “first drink of water in the desert”
Naid
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “water nymph”
Namra
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “delicious water”
Narelle
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: “from the North; a river in New South Wales”
Nerida
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “sea nymph”
Nixie
Origin: German
Meaning: “water sprite”
Recommended: Nixie is also on our list of names with attitude
Noelani
Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: “mist of heaven”
Nori
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “seaweed”
O
Oceana
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “ocean”
Ondine
Origin: French
Meaning: “wave of water”
R
Rain
Origin: English
Meaning: “rain”
Reva
Origin: Hindi
Meaning: “rain”
Recommended: Reva is also on our list of rain inspired baby names
Rhea
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “flowing”
Rheanna
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “stream; goddess”
Ria
Origin: Danish
Meaning: “flowing”
Rialta
Origin: Italian
Meaning: “deep brook”
Rio
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: “river”
Ripley
Origin: American
Meaning: “meadow near the river”
Rosemary
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “dew of the sea”
S
Sabrina
Origin: Celtic
Meaning: “from the river Severn”
Salila
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “water”
Sarita
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “river”
Sedna
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “goddess of the sea”
Sereia
Origin: Portuguese
Meaning: “mermaid”
Shannon
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “old river”
Shore
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “calm seas”
T
Tahoe
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “edge of the lake”
Talia
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “dew of heaven”
Talise
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “lovely water”
Tallulah
Origin: Native American
Meaning: “leaping water”
Tarni
Origin: Australian
Meaning: “salty water”
W
Waverly
Origin: English
Meaning: “meadow of quivering aspen”
Winslet
Origin: English
Meaning: “Wynn's channel or stream”
Z
Zarna
Origin: Indian
Meaning: “spring or stream”
Zarya
Origin: Slavic
Meaning: “water priestess”
Here are more baby name posts to consider:
BABY BOY NAMES LISTS
BABY GIRL NAMES LISTS
Middle Names Lists
We’d love to hear if you have any favorite baby names from our list. Or maybe you’ve got a name suggestion that you’d like added?
Either way, leave a comment and let us know!
