Naming a boat is a big deal.
Not only does a boat’s name reflect on the owner, but the ceremony of naming (and renaming…but we’ll come back to that) your boat is part of a centuries-long tradition.
If I say, Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, don’t the names conjure up vivid images of other times, countries, sailors, exploration–in short, a world of naval associations?
But choosing a name doesn’t have to be all so serious. Naming or renaming a boat is also an excellent opportunity to express yourself and your values. Though some people fondly name their cars, there’s nothing like the freedom to name your boat. Make the most of your choice!
Renaming a Boat
We want to cover the issue of renaming old boats before getting on with our boat name ideas.
If you’ve inherited a boat or simply want to rename an existing boat, there are a few extra steps to go through. It’s common for boat owners to go through a ceremony before renaming a ship. It’s supposed to ward off Poseidon, the sea-gods, and his wrath. Although it’s totally up to you, we recommend using some of the following rules before renaming a boat.
- Remove all signs and evidence of the boat’s previous name.
- Commence the traditional purging ceremony
- Rename your boat
- Recite a short speech to the four winds
- Enjoy the rest of the champagne with friends and family!
Now that we’ve covered renaming an old boat and gotten some preliminary info out of the way, let’s get started on our list of boat name ideas!
257 Creative Name Ideas For New Boats
We split up the list into a few sections to make it a little easier to navigate or zero in on the kind of name you are already interested in.
Boat Names Using Given Names
We’re starting the list with one of the most common ways people name boats–naming them after a loved one, celebrity, pet, or in memory of a person who has passed away.
- Jolly Roger
- Robin Hood
- Harry Potter
- Joan’s Ark
- Ruby Tuesday
- Suzie Q
- BlackJack
- Simon’s Skiff
- Long Tom
- Hey Jude
- Proud Mary
- Calamity Jane
- Next Of Ken
- Big Bad John
- Mad Mick
- Carol’s Choice
- Murphy’s Law
- Adam’s Apple
- Cracker Jack
- Charlie’s Angels
- Peg ‘O My
Famous Womens’ Names For Boats
We briefly touched on the odd but still popular convention of naming boats after female figures. Looking back among history’s extended register of boats, feminine names are all over the place: Santa Maria is just one of many. The list of popular famous women’s names include:
- Jenny
- The African Queen
- Andrea Gail
- The Empress
- My Girl
- Queenie
- Soul Sister
- Island Girl
- Belle
- Windy Lady
- Boss Lady
- Ready Maid
- Dragon Lady
- Cover Girl
- Southern Belle
- Pretty Woman
- Foxy Lady
- Miss Taken
- Debutante
- My Old Lady
- Princess
- Liberty Belle
- Skipper’s Girl
Boat Names Based Off Of Jobs And Hobbies
They say that everyone’s got a job in this world–why not show off your occupation or favorite pastime on the side of your boat? Publicizing what you do on your boat is a sure conversation starter too!
- Umpire
- Playright
- Stocks & Bonds
- Tooth Ferry
- Dogman
- Philosophy
- Court Jester
- The Shrink
- Mad Professor
- Sportsman
- Supermodel
- Scribe
- Legal Eagle
- Bootlegger
- The Bill Keeper
- El Doc
- Pill Peddler
- Nightingale
- Ombudsman
- Wordsmith
- Sealectric
- Control Alt Delete
Boat Color Names
Lots of people name their boat after its paint job or the color of the sea or sunset. Using color names is a classic and sophisticated choice–or you can poke fun by naming the boat after some other, random color. The options are endless!
- Green Light
- Red Pepper
- Blue Steel
- Pot ‘O Gold
- Evergreen
- Mellow Yellow
- Blue Jacket
- Lady Grey
- Orange Peel
- Black Diamond
- Big Red
- Silver Hawk
- Tickled Pink
- Red Tomato
- Moody Blues
- Fiddler’s Green
- Lady in Red
- Purple Dream
Birthplaces And Hometowns
Naturally, you can name your boat after your hometown or the place you call home. If you wish you lived somewhere else or dream to live there someday, use those names!
- Flying Dutchman
- Britz
- Yankee Doodle
- Spanish Eyes
- Swiss Chocolate
- French Knickers
- Kiwi
- Yellow Rose Of Texas
- Irish Cream
- Vienna Schnitzel
- Brittanica
- Tasmanian Devil
- French Kiss
- China Doll
- Welsh Rabbit
- Canada Dry
- Aussie Battler
- Celtic Flyer
- Irish Rose
- Long White Cloud
- Big Apple
- Born Down Under
- Sand Groper
- French Champagne
- Scotland The Brave
- Pommy Bastard
- French Mustard
- Spanish Fly
- Banana Bender
- Top End Charlie
- Swiss Miss
- Singapore Sling
- Russian Blue
- African Queen
Boat Name Ideas From Foreign Languages
Want to add a little international flavor to your boat? Name her after a Russian novel, a Spanish phrase, or a South African swear word. Take your pick! Foreign language names are exotic, romantic, and full of past histories you can share with friends and fellow captains.
- Menage à Trois
- Amigo
- Miko
- Papillon
- Aloha
- Veni Vidi Vici
- Carpe Diem
- L’Allegro
- Tempus
- Inka
- Sirocco
- Sayonara
- Mystic Wahine
- Dolce Far Niente
- La Mer
- Quid Pro Quo
- Alter Ego
- Kunga Wonga
- Nangara
- Carte Blanche
- Ben Trovato
- Volver
- Fait Accompli
- Rooinek
- Raison d’Etre
- Sueno
- Viva
- Quo Vadis?
Famous Historical Boats You Could Use As A Boat Name
Are you a bit of a history buff? Count your boat among the list of the most famous ships of all time by choosing a historical boat name.
- Black Pearl
- Aquaholic
- Liberty
- Mayflower
- Serenity
- Pura Vida
- Bismarck
- Golden Hind
- Noah’s Ark
- The Queen Mary
- SS Edmund Fitzgerald
- USS Missouri
- Yamato
- Pequod
- S.S. Minnow
- Titanic
- The Dawn Treader
- The Inferno
- Queen’s Gambit
- HMS Victory
- USS Arizona
- HMS Beagle
- RMS Lusitania
- Niña
- Pinta
- Santa Maria
- HMAV Bounty
Funny/Punny Names For Boats
Now we come to the part of the list that many boat owners might flock to. Giving your boat a unique and funny name–especially with a pun–is a good strategy if you don’t mind the added attention. What can we say? People like a good laugh.
- Prawn Shop
- Shakespeare Fishing
- Seas The Moment
- A Salt Weapon
- Presidential DeBait
- Sea Addicts Anonymous
- Sea King Adventure
- Dockter Sea
- Ecsta-sea
- Docked Pay
- Off the Hook
- Sea For Yourself
- Playbouy
- Fishnets
- Nice Aft
- Easy Catch
- La Seavious Acts
- Liquid Asset
- Knot Working
- Bail Out
- Shore Thing
- Get Your Fish On
- Wish You Were Her
- Fishers Of Men
- Tide Pool
- Nothing But Net
- Ship Happens
- Boat To Be Wild
- Speedo Deck
- Beach Leech
- Fishing Nemo
- Docked Up
- Laguna Matata
- Tackle Me Elmo
- Fish Magnet
- Poop Deck
- Coral Reefer
- Sea Señor
Classy Names For Luxury Boats
To lend a timeless quality to your boat, turn to the classier names. Distinctive, sophisticated, and elegant, these names will make your boat look like it belongs in a James Bond movie.
- Wanderlust
- Odyssey
- Destiny
- Escapade
- Bella Luna
- Serenity
- Aquamarine
- Diamond
- Misty
- Magnolia
- Watercress
- Symphony
- The Atlantis
- Elizabethan
- The Duke
- Nautilus
- Orca
- Black Pearl
- Duchess
- Aristocrat
- Windsor
- Peridot
- Exodus
- Atlas
Interesting Pop Culture Names
Finally, if you can’t get enough of millennial trends and tastemakers, internet memes, or TV, show off your love for pop culture by naming your boat after your favorite catchphrase, tweet, or ‘80s film.
- Yer A Wizard
- Heck Yes!
- Killin’ Me, Smalls
- Clever Girl
- Make Like A Tree
- Oh, Fudge!
- Bigger Boat
- To Infinity
- Spare No Expense
- Never Say Die
- 88 MPH
- Center For Ants
- Glass Case of Emotion
- Mom’s Basement
- Marty Moose
- Drawn That Way
- Wax On, Wax Off
- A Delicious Bass
- Favorite Deputy
- Atreyu
- Big Pile Of Ship
- Neverending Story
In Conclusion
Despite all the freedoms you have when choosing a name, we have some final tips to leave you with before the naming ceremony. They’re not hard-fast rules–more like recommendations.
- Don’t rush in and name your boat after the first idea that comes to mind. Let it stew a while, ask friends what they think, check out the names on boats that dock near yours.
- Female names were and still are conventional for boats. However, if you buck that trend, there won’t be any uproar. It’s just a curious tradition that keeps living on.
- Shorter names tend to be more memorable than overly long phrase-names
- Many people pick boat names that match their type of vessel. You’ll see a lot more yachts called Wind Seeker than houseboats named Zephyr.
- Check out the NOAA list of registered boats to see if your name is common or one-of-a-kind. (For Canadians, click here, for the EU, click here.)
