Boat Name Ideas

Cool Boat Names

Naming your new boat is one of the most important things that you can do for your new pride and joy. Whether it be for sentimental reasons or superstitious reasons, christening your boat with its own name gives your boat character and a sense of being.

There are many different types of name groups that you could choose your name from. I have listed ten name groups below, but I am sure there are many more which I have left out.

You could Google for boat name ideas and use one that you find, but how original would that be? The best way to find a boat name is to use one or create one that has your own personal meaning.

Because do you really want to name your boat "Serendipity" like the other thousands of boats around the world with the same name? (Sorry if this is your boat name, but I am trying to make sure others choose a unique name and not copy your boat name.)

I did a Google search of popular boat names and came up with this list:

This Should Be Your List of Names Not to Use

1. Second Wind
2. Serenity
3. Wind Dancer
4. Orion
5. Windsong
6. Whisper
7. Escape
8. Carpe Diem
9. Summer Wind
10. Serendipity

Ten Groups of Boat Names, With Examples

Plus a Boat Name Generator for dozens more names!

1. Sayings

Tiperty Boo

Dambit

Magic

Gotcha

Farkin Eck

2. Names That Come With Stories

Mischievous One - This boat had quite a few problems with it when it was new.

Mischievous Too - This was the previous boat's tender (i.e small launch).

Battered Bull - Owned by a stock market genius, Bull refers to the bullish stock market.

Wild Turkey - Referring to both the owner's nature and love of bourbon.

Income - Owned by an accountant.

Scroll to Continue

Is Medium on the Bubble? - Disturbing Bubblews and Medium Parallels

The Real Reason Republicans Banned TikTok

Review of the BFOUR Wireless Meat Thermometer

Tax - The previous boat's tender (i.e. small launch). When sitting on the back of the main boat it completed the phrase "Income Tax"

3. Fishing Boat Names

Unreel

Reel Time

Reel Fun

Wild Turkey

Hooked

4. Personal Names

Lady Jane

Belinda May

Princess

Miss Jane

Beau Jean

5. Ski, Jet Ski or Speed Boat Names

Wild Thing

Rippa

Ripper

Xena

Hot Stuff

6. Nautical Theme Names

Sea Spray

Tradewind

Sea Wasp

Ocean Spirit

Sea Jay

Boat Name Generator

The table below gives 100 different name combinations for nautical themed names. Granted some don't sound too great when used, but the majority of them work.

What you do is take the first part of the name from Column 1 and the second part of the name from Column 2. For example Sea Dancer, Sea Spirit, Sea Runner, or Moon Breeze, Moon Mist, Moon Spray, etc.

7. Navy or Naval Boat Names

HMAS Anzac

HMAS Bundaberg

HMAS Sydney

HMS Manchester

USS Essex

Follow this link to see the Australian Navy Fleet

Follow this link to see the UK Navy Fleet

9. Ocean Liner Names

Oasis of the Seas - The worlds largest ocean liner

QE2 (Queen Elizabeth 2)

Fairstar

Pacific Jewel

Disney Magic

Disney Wonder

10. Greek or Roman Mythology Names

Titanic

Hercules

Nimrod

Nemo

Medusa

Famous Boat Names in the Movies

Here are a few famous boat names that are from the movies or TV. They're just here for fun, please don't name your boat with one of these for obvious reasons, i.e. they all usually ended up in disaster. Some of these boats are famous, real life boats that have had movies made about them and some are just fictional boats in the story.

Titanic

Poseidon

SS Minnow - From Gilligan's Island

African Queen

Our Mutual Friend - Desmond's boat in Lost

Okay, So I Have My Boat Name, Now What?

When it comes to naming your baby (naming your boat) the best decals are from self adhesive vinyl. You can get these made up from your local sign writer who has a NC Vinyl Cutter (a computer aided vinyl cutter). You can choose from a large selection of fonts that they have to offer. Pick a font that is clear to read or that takes your fancy. You will be in the sign writer’s waiting room for ages flicking through their fonts booklet (which comes with their software) if you don’t have a font in mind.

Once you have your letters cut out you will want to stick them straight to your yacht or vessel. Get help from the sign writer with how to best apply your letters but from what I have learnt just follow these simple steps:

1. Clean the surface with an alcohol based spirit like methylated spirit (denatured alcohol in the USA) but be careful with mineral turpentine as it may be too harsh for your boat surface.
2. Apply some soapy water to where you want the lettering to go. This will assist in moving the stickers about slightly to get their position correct.
3. Peel the paper off the sticky surface of the decal and carefully place the lettering where you want it.
4. Pat down the back of the sticker and slowly and carefully peel the backing paper off the stickers. Try to push out the large air/water bubbles under the sticker but don’t be too concerned if you can’t get them all out as the sun will dry the sticker and “pull” out the bubbles.

Spooky Stuff: Boat Name Superstitions

Here are a few rules about boat naming that I have heard over the years. Call them superstition or tradition but there seems to be some unwritten rules about naming a vessel:

1. Boat names, when using human names are always female, i.e. a boat is always regarded as a female.
2. Never rename a boat with a new name, especially if you didn't own the boat first.
3. Never name your replacement boat with exactly the same name as the previous. i.e that's why you will have boats called Lady Jane II.
4. Christening a boat by smashing wine or champagne over the bow, by a female dignitary, will bring the vessel good luck throughout it's lifetime.

I am sure there are plenty more superstitious quirks about naming a boat, if you know of any drop me an email and I'll add them here. Thanks.

Selecting a boat name that has meaning for yourself or your boat is the best. That way it will be original and have special meaning to you only.

© 2009 LeonJane

Comments

Spinners Girl on June 07, 2020:

Is this name available

lou on July 17, 2012:

It is also bad luck, to name a boat or ship, after a boat or ship that has been lost at sea or sunk. i always tell friends to look up the name they like. to see if a boat was ever lost, that had the same name they like. neptune will come after what he has already laid claim to.

LeonJane (author) from Australia on June 16, 2011:

Thanks boatwallpapers and tommy for your suggestions!

tommy on June 07, 2011:

Yeh buoy,ship happens,aqua holic

boatwallpapers on December 08, 2010:

boat name is the same of my son name

LeonJane (author) from Australia on May 18, 2010:

Thanks Ralph Deeds, that is quite a good example, I didn't mention acronyms in my hub but they are quite clever and personal for boat names. Thanks for the extra boat name idea.

Ralph Deeds from Birmingham, Michigan on May 17, 2010:

Everyone should read your hub before naming their boat. Some people get brain fade when picking names for their boats (and their children). The most famous boat name on Lake St. Clair was FUJIMO picked by a recently or about to be divorced sailor--It was an acronym for F..K You Jane I'm Moving On.

LeonJane (author) from Australia on April 27, 2010:

Thanks for your comment GmaGoldie, sounds like you have your heart in getting a boat or at least sailing off into the sunset!

Kelly A. Kline from USA on April 24, 2010:

Very well done and researched. Dreaming of having a real boat to name. Off to dream about those crafts that take me to those serene waters of sunshine and fun.

LeonJane (author) from Australia on March 21, 2010:

Thanks cheaptrick, Nomad sounds like a great name for a boat, I haven't heard of that one too often. Sounds like you have a great boat there. Thanks again.

cheaptrick from the bridge of sighs on March 19, 2010:

I suppose I was lucky,Nomad is her name and it fits perfectly,She came with it and that[as you mentioned]was that.I replaced her lettering with scrolled wood plaques and added a figure head to her bow.Very Pretty Lady!

Well presented Hub.

Thanks

Dean

LeonJane (author) from Australia on January 10, 2010:

@ prasetio30 - thanks for your comment, boat names are an unusual thing in life I guess if you have never read anything like this before

@ Randy Behavior - selling a boat with a name might suit the new owners because sometimes it can take forever to think of a suitable and unique boat name

@ Hi-Jinks - Thanks for your comment, yeah I agree, Jinks might bring some bad luck to your boating trips!

Hi-Jinks from Wisconsin on November 06, 2009:

I like this. I live in the Great Lakes of the USA. I looked it up once Jinks is a english female name. I, however, will not be naming my boat that, if I had a boat.

Randy Behavior from Near the Ocean on October 30, 2009:

I think I've finally settled on a name. Since I'm now ready to sell her, 10 years later, perhaps I should forgo?

prasetio30 from malang-indonesia on October 29, 2009:

nice hub.very interesting. I never read like this before.