Names that mean sea
This list groups names by the literal gloss at the start of each meaning, not the cultural notes that follow. Closely related meanings are gathered under sea. Tap any name for its story, or grow a tree and see which of them belong in your family.
Darya Persian · sea, ocean
Samudra Bengali · sea, ocean
Arnav Sanskrit · ocean, sea
Moana Hawaiian · ocean, deep sea
Nagisa Japanese · shore, beach
Kekai Hawaiian · the sea
Kaito Japanese · ocean flying, sea and soar
Kailani Hawaiian · sea and sky
Kadal Tamil · sea, ocean (Tamil)
Deniz Turkish · sea
Hai Vietnamese · sea
Hoi Cantonese · sea (海)
Océane French · ocean
Kaikea Hawaiian · sea foam, white ocean
Marina Latin · of the sea; also a real Japanese given name (真里奈, 麻里奈) carried by singers and idols, while remaining a fully established Western name in its own right
Morgan Welsh · sea circle, sea-born
Kehlani Hawaiian · "sea and sky"
Kaimana Hawaiian · diamond, power of the ocean
Duong Vietnamese · sun, ocean (also a common surname)
Kairi Japanese · often meaning ocean; popularized by a video game
Tao Chinese · great waves (濤)
Murray Scottish · settlement by the sea
Sagar Sanskrit · ocean (Sanskrit sagara); a favorite in landlocked Nepal, and easy to say everywhere
Marin Latin · from Latin marinus, 'of the sea'; also a California place name
Merlin Welsh · sea fortress
Yoko Japanese · ocean child
Maris Latin · traditionally 'of the sea', from the Latin phrase stella maris
Moira Irish · star of the sea, variant of Maura/Mary; a graceful classic
Yang Chinese · varies by character: often 阳, 'sunlight', or 洋, 'ocean'; in US records the spelling also carries the Hmong clan name
Kai Hawaiian · "sea" in Hawaiian; also an independent name in Scandinavian, Japanese, and Chinese use, each with its own root and history. One crisp syllable that belongs everywhere, which is the secret of its global rise
Keilani Hawaiian · heavenly glory, from kai (sea) and lani (sky)
Pelagia Polish · of the open sea (Greek pelagos); an early martyr's name kept alive in Poland
Kye Hawaiian · phonetic variant of Kai, meaning sea
Sirena Italian · siren, the enchanting sea nymphs of Greek myth
Mervin Welsh · traditionally sea hill, variant of Mervyn
Kaylani Hawaiian · variant of Kailani, Hawaiian for 'sea and sky'
Merrill English · English surname, traditionally 'bright sea'
Maryn English · modern variant of Maren/Marin, traditionally 'of the sea'
Maren Scandinavian · Danish diminutive of Marina or Maria
Delmer Uncertain · Disputed: possibly Old French de la mer, of the sea, or Old English elements for valley and pool.
Maura Irish · traditionally star of the sea, Irish form of Mary
Daylan Welsh · modern coinage, phonetic variant of Dylan, traditionally 'son of the sea'
Makai Hawaiian · Hawaiian word meaning 'toward the sea'
Dilan Welsh · variant of Dylan, Welsh for 'son of the sea'
Dillan Welsh · variant of Dylan, traditionally 'son of the sea'
Marnie Latin · pet form of Marina, 'of the sea'
Madelyn Hebrew · "woman of Magdala," from Magdalene, the fishing village on the Sea of Galilee; Madelyn is the streamlined American spelling of Madeline, part of the same vintage current that lifted Evelyn. Maddie leads its short forms
Hoi-Ying Cantonese · varies by characters; often 海瑩 sea luster
Madeline Hebrew · "woman of Magdala," from Magdalene, the village on the Sea of Galilee; centuries of French use as Madeleine, plus a beloved picture-book heroine, keep it storybook-warm in English. Maddie waits inside
Dylan Welsh · "son of the wave" by tradition, the sea-spirit of Welsh myth born gleaming from the tide; the poet Dylan Thomas carried it out of Wales, and America made it a modern standard. Lyrical origins, everyday ease
Meryl Celtic · A variant of Muriel, from Gaelic muir, sea, and geal, bright, meaning bright sea
Anamaria Spanish · combination of Ana and Maria, traditionally 'grace' and 'star of the sea'
Caspian Persian · used by C. S. Lewis for the Narnia prince (1950); probably from the Caspian Sea, named for the city of Qazvin and the ancient Cas tribe
Hoi-Lam Cantonese · sea; beautiful jade or precious gem (海琳)
Marielle French · French blend of Marie and Elle, related to Maria, traditionally 'star of the sea'
Irwin Germanic · traditionally 'boar friend' or 'sea friend'
Dillon Welsh · variant of Dylan, traditionally translated as 'son of the sea'
Dylon Modern American · a modern respelling of Dylan, from Welsh legend, a sea deity in the Mabinogion read as son of the sea
Muriel Irish · traditionally 'sea-bright'
Jakai English · modern coinage combining 'Ja-' with Kai ('sea')
Murphy Irish · surname Ó Murchadha, "sea warrior"
Dori Greek · a short form of Dorothy, gift of god, or Doris, Dorian woman and a sea nymph in Greek myth; the root it shortens varies by bearer
Vasa Samoan · Samoan word traditionally meaning ocean expanse
Makara Khmer · the makara, the sea dragon of Hindu-Buddhist myth, and the Khmer word for January; one Khmer custom names a child for the birth month, so Makara doubles as a calendar name the way Tola (October) and Seyha (August) do
Delma Uncertain · of disputed origin: possibly short for Germanic Adelma, noble protector, possibly Spanish del mar, of the sea.
Vaimoana Samoan · Samoan compound name traditionally combining vai (water) and moana (ocean)
Shannan Modern American · A 1970s spelling of Shannon, the Irish river name from Sionann, granddaughter of the sea god Lir in myth.
Jaylani Arabic · an invented name, a variant of Kailani ("sea and sky", Hawaiian) using the popular jay element
Which of these fits YOUR family? →