When I picture water, I imagine countless summer days at the beach, or trekking through woods for hidden waterfalls, or the mere sensation of raindrops on my skin.
Water inspired baby names are beautiful because they can express whatever it is that you want your baby to have: resilience, calmness, or adventure.
If you name your baby after water, you don’t merely give them a name; you bind them to something old and natural.
Kai, for example, is short and active and River — a name that is free and meanders, of course, to life.
If you prefer names with oceanic acuity, mountain lake clarity or the sweetness of morning fog, this is the list for you.
I’ve collected the coolest, most unique and nature-inspired water baby names that will have your heart dancing.
From the best to the lesser known, you can find a name for every style and vibe.
So let’s get sucked in and get that right name that’s like salty ocean air.
Table of Contents
Cool Water Baby Names
If you’re looking for a name with a casual cool vibe, maybe these water names are your next idea.
Boy
- Caspian – (Greek, Latin) White, From Qazvin
- Rafferty – (Irish) Floodtide, Abundance
- Ford – (English) Dweller at the ford
- Tiberius – (Latin) Of the Tiber
- Irving – (Scottish) Green river, Sea friend
- Malik – (Arabic, Greenlandic) King, Wave
- Locke – (English) Enclosure, Fortified place
- Fisher – (English) Fisherman
- Ronan – (Irish) Little seal
- Arno – (German) Eagle
- Pike – (American) Pike, a fish
- Neri – (Hebrew, Greek) My candle, Ocean spirit
- Varan – (Hindi) Water god
- Caldwell – (English) Cold stream
- Hiawatha – (Iroquois) He makes rivers
- Musa – (Arabic) Drawn out of the water
- Nile – (English) Dark blue, Indigo
- Zenebe – (Amharic) Raining
- Bardo – (Aboriginal) Water
- Windsor – (English) Riverbank with a winch
Girl
- Cordelia – (Latin, Celtic) Heart, Daughter of the sea
- Damla – (Turkish) Water drop
- Kaia – (Latin, Scandinavian, Hawaiian) To rejoice or sea
- Maren – (Latin) Sea
- Guinevere – (Welsh) White shadow, White wave
- Minnie – (German, Latin) Resolute protection, Intellect
- Jenna – (English) White shadow, White wave
- Tula – (Choctaw, Hindi, Kiswahili) Leaping water, Libra, To be tranquil
- India – (Latin) From India, From the Indus River
- Ocean – (Greek) Sea
- Coral – (Latin) Sea growth
- Eyre – (Old Norse) Gravel bank river
- Amaya – (Spanish, Japanese) Mother city, The end, Night rain
- Delta – (Greek) Letter, Island
- Oceane – (French) Ocean
- Kaveri – (Sankethi) River
- Niloufar – (Persian) Lotus, water lily
- Tallulah – (Choctaw, Irish) Leaping water, Lady of abundance
- Chantara – (Thai) Moon water
- Iara – (Arabic, Tupi) Small butterfly, Lady of the water
- Maree – (French) Ocean tides
- Gwenore – (Welsh) White shadow, White wave
- Baia – (Portuguese) Bay
- Duna – (Hungarian, Irish) Danube river, Dark, Swarthy
- Ngaio – (Maori) Reflections on the water
- Kerith – (Hebrew) A cut
Nature inspired Water Baby Names
If you love baby names that take your little one out in nature, this list will add a touch of nature’s magic to your baby’s name.
Boy
- Deveraux – (French) Riverbank
- Fuji – (Japanese) Dweller near the river where wisteria grows
- Naim – (Scottish, Arabic) River with alder trees, Happy
- Aalto – (Finnish) Wave
- Hurley – (Irish) Sea tide
- Devere – (French) Of the fishing place
- Nairn – (Scottish) River with alder trees
- Fisk – (English) Fisherman
- Arnav – (Hindi) Ocean
- Evelio – (Spanish) Desired, Island, Water
- Bradford – (English) Wide river crossing
- Hudson – (English) Hugh’s son
- Nairne – (Scottish) River with alder trees
- Arledge – (English) Dweller at the rabbit lake
- Delmar – (Spanish) Of the sea
- Shad – (English) Fish seller, Fish
- Brosnan – (Irish) Dweller near the Brosna River
- Carlow – (Irish) Four-part lake
- Pacific – (Latin) Tranquil
- Dougie – (Scottish) Black water
- Barbeau – (French) Fisherman
- Dover – (Welsh) The waters
- Holmes – (English) From the island in the river
- Alun – (Welsh) Handsome
- Eaton – (English) Riverside
- Blackburn – (English) Black brook
- Avon – (Irish) River
Girl
- Aveline – (French, German) Desired, Island, Water
- Doris – (Greek) Gift of the ocean
- Misty – (English) Mist
- Clodagh – (Irish) Of an Irish river
- Avonlea – (English) River by a field, Woodland river
- Ula – (Celtic) Gem of the sea
- Araluen – (Australian) Place of the water lilies
- Gali – (Hebrew) Wave
- Dwyn – (Welsh) Wave, To steal
- Moana – (Maori, Samoan) Deep ocean, sea
- Laguna – (Italian) Pond, Lake
- Axona – (Celtic) Water
- Hydra – (Greek) Water serpent
- Nilou – (Persian) Water lily, Lotus
- Derya – (Turkish) Sea
- Firth – (Scottish) Estuary, Arm of the sea
- Oceania – (Greek) Ocean
- Aarna – (Sanskrit) Wave
- Hydrangea – (Greek) Water vessel
- Dwynwen – (Welsh) Wave
- Thetis – (Greek) Dogmatic
- Cascade – (French) To fall, Waterfall
- Kaimana – (Hawaiian) The power of the ocean
- Onda – (Italian) Wave
- Vaitiare – (Tahitian) Water flower
- Agam – (Hebrew) Lake
Baby Names Meaning Stream
These names provide easy elegance if you’re drawn to the silence and movement of a stream.
Boy
- Struan – (Gaelic) Stream
- Dacre – (English) Trickling stream
- Blackwell – (English) Black well or stream
- Rilian – (German) Small stream
- Wilton – (English) Place by a stream
- Raeburn – (English) Stream where does drink
- Hopewell – (English) Valley stream
- Bourne – (English) One who lives near a stream
- Wilt – (English) Place by a stream
- Durie – (Scottish) Small or black stream
- Strom – (German) Stream
- Beekman – (Dutch) Dweller by the stream
- Nashua – (Native-American) Stream with a pebbly bottom
- Hartwell – (English) Stag stream
- Fordham – (English) Meadow by a stream
- Brooker – (English) Someone who lives by a stream
- Rigden – (English) Valley by the stream
- Wolcott – (English) Cottage near a stream
- Duryea – (Irish) From the stream
- Laker – (English) One who lives by the stream
- Brodny – (Slavic) One who lives near a stream
- Jafar – (Arabic, Iranian) Stream
- Fleetwood – (English) Woods with a stream
- Radburn – (English) Reedy stream
- Bradach – (Irish) Beard
- Seabrook – (English surname) Trickling stream
Girl
- Rheya – (Greek) Flowing stream
- Cherith – (Hebrew) Winter stream
- Yuvi – (Hebrew) Stream
- Rivulet – (English) Small stream
- Eiddwen – (Welsh) Blessed stream
Whimsical Water Baby Names
If you need something magical and exotic, these names will make your eyes swoon.
Boy
- Indra – (Sanskrit) Possessing drops of rain
- Mose – (German, Egyptian) Delivered from the water
- Lir – (Irish) Sea
- Aquarius – (Latin) Water carrier
- Triton – (Greek) God Of The Sea
- Oceanus – (Greek) Ocean
- Varun – (Indian) Water god
- Neptune – (Latin) Roman god of the sea, God of water
- Pontus – (Greek) Sea, Bridge
- Alwyn – (English) Elf friend, Wise friend
- Merlin – (Welsh) Sea fortress
- Nen – (Egyptian) Ancient waters
Girl
- Maya – (Sanskrit, Roman) Water, Illusion, Mother
- Mira – (Arabic, Sanskrit) Peace, Female ruler, Ocean
- Talia – (Hebrew, Australian) Gentle dew from heaven, By the water
- Lorelei – (German) Alluring, Temptress
- Marina – (Latin) From the sea
- Sabrina – (Welsh, Arabic) From the River Severn, Patience
- Jennifer – (Cornish, Welsh) White shadow, White wave
- Morwenna – (Welsh) Maiden
- Nixie – (German) Water nymph
- Alara – (Persian, Armenian) Water fairy
- Ginevra – (Italian) White shadow, White wave
- Nimue – (Welsh) Lady of the Lake
- Saga – (Swedish) Story, Seeress
- Ondine – (Latin) Little wave
- Thalassa – (Greek) The sea
- Halcyon – (Greek) Kingfisher bird
- Anahita – (Persian) Immaculate, Water Goddess
- Nerida – (Greek) Sea nymph, mermaid
- Undine – (Latin) Little wave
- Ama – (Ghanaian, Cherokee) Born on Saturday, Water
- Avila – (Latin, German) Bird, Desired
- Jara – (Spanish, Slavic, Arabic) Rock-rose, Spring, Earthen water jug
- Oceana – (Greek) Ocean
- Yareli – (Native American, Arabic) Water lady, Small butterfly
- Euna – (Cherokee) Waterfall
- Naida – (Greek) Water nymph
Unique Water Inspired Baby Names
If you’re hoping for a name as uncommon and exclusive as your baby, check out this list of watery names.
Boy
- Tarka – (Literary) Wandering as water
- Clyde – (Scottish) Warm, Friendly
- Beach – (English) A shore of a body of water
- Thames – (British) River in London
- Salmon – (Hebrew, British) Peace, Salmon, a fish
- Munro – (Scottish) Mouth of the River Roe
- Danube – (Latin) River, Water
- Rives – (French, Hebrew) Dweller by the riverbank, To tie
- Kano – (African, Japanese) The god of the waters
- Loch – (Scottish Gaelic) Lake
- Talcott – (English) Cottage near the lake
- Lakon – (British) Body of water
- Orwell – (English) The branch of the river
- Sanborn – (British) Sandy stream
- Byrn – (British) Stream or brook
- Hulme – (Scottish) Island in the river
- Dugaid – (Scottish) Black river
- Brubeck – (German) Dweller beside a brook
- Zayle – (Greek) Sea-strength
- Burne – (English) The brook
- Fordon – (British) River crossing
- Cromwell – (British) Winding stream
- Whitbeck – (British) White stream
- Seibert – (British) Shining sea
Girl
- Maribel – (English) Drop of the sea, Bitter, Beloved, Beautiful
- Nebula – (Latin) Mist
- Seine – (French) To flow, Name of a river
- Varsha – (Hindi) Rain
- Inna – (Slavic) Strong water, Fast flowing stream
- Moonglade – (English) The bright reflection of moonlight on water
- Prideaux – (Cornish) Meadow of waters
- Meris – (Latin) Of the sea
- Narelle – (Australian) Little river
- Rayan – (Arabic) Land that is lush and rich in water
- Irmak – (Turkish) River
- Rivera – (Spanish) Bank, shore
- Marsh – (Latin) Of Marsha, Dedicated to Mars
- Omilani – (Yoruba) Water is what we have
- Reva – (Sanskrit) Narmada river, Name of Goddess Rati
- Nahla – (Arabic) A drink of water
- Maayan – (Hebrew) Spring of water
- Vaimiti – (Tahitian) Salt water
- Meral – (British, Turkish) Shining sea, Female deer
- Julep – (English, Persian) Rose water
- Nerina – (Greek) Sea nymph
More Water Names for Baby
If you need more water names then no worries, I’ve got you covered.
Dig a little deeper into this list and maybe you’ll hit on that one name that makes your heart jump for joy.
Boy
- Douglas – (Scottish) Black water
- Buckingham – (English) The water meadow of Bucca’s people
- Trent – (English) The flooder
- Moishe – (Yiddish, Egyptian) Delivered from the water
- Varuna – (Sanskrit) God of Water
- Wyre – (Welsh) Winding river
- Kenn – (Welsh) Bright water
- Wade – (English) At the river crossing
- Hancock – (English) Shellfish-gatherer
- Bach – (German) Dweller near the brook
- Rein – (English) Royal authority, Rain
- Chisholm – (Scottish) Dairy farmland near the water
- Nesbit – (English) Land or river bend shaped like a nose
- Wharton – (English) Farm near the river
- Newlin – (Welsh) New pond
- Treveri – (Gaulish) River people
- Merton – (English) Town by the lake
- Seger – (British) Sea fighter
- Evian – (American) Spa
- Burney – (English) Island of the brook
- Avan – (Indian) Water
- Burbank – (English) Riverbank where burrs grow
- Como – (Latin) Province
- Winsor – (British) From the river bend
- Rinus – (Latin) Of the sea
- Alford – (British) The old river-ford
- Ahyuini – (Cherokee) Swimmer
- Bradman – (English) At the wide river
- Claron – (Latin) One who lives near the River Clare
- Deniz – (Turkish) Sea
- Bolivar – (Basque) Mill at the riverbank
- Ormand – (German) Sea man, Spear man
- Nayiri – (Armenian) Land of canyons or rivers
- Westbrook – (English) From the western brook
- Irven – (Scottish) Green or fresh water, Boar friend
Girl
- Sereia – (Portuguese) Mermaid
- Navia – (Galician, Hebrew) Water goddess, Beautiful
- Ria – (Spanish) Small river
- Jora – (Hebrew) Autumn rain
- Locklyn – (Gaelic) Lake land
- Nyxie – (English, Greek) Night, Water nymph
- Loire – (French) Region and river in France
- Rainie – (Latin) Queen
- Mayim – (Hebrew) Water
- Rilla – (German) Small brook
- Miuccia – (Italian) Of the sea
- Niara – (Hindi) Nebula, Mist
- Thara – (Thai) Water
- Kallan – (Scandinavian) Stream, river
- Lamina – (Basque) Water nymph
- Yarelis – (Native American, Spanish) Water lady, Small butterfly
- Tarni – (Australian) Wave, Surf
- Rialta – (Italian) Deep brook
- Glenys – (Welsh) Riverbank, Shore, Pure
- Doria – (Greek) Of the sea
- Yagmur – (Turkish) Rain
- Saraswati – (Sanskrit) Possessing water
- Newlyn – (Welsh) New pond
- Pavati – (Native American, Hopi) Clear water
- Inia – (Maori) Body of water
- Sarojini – (Indian) Pond covered in lotuses
- Immokalee – (Cherokee) Tumbling water
- Vellamo – (Finnish) Movement of water and waves
Wrap Up
I hope this list of water baby names inspired you a little bit and maybe even made you fall in love with a few names.
Whether you’re opting for bold and plain as in Finn, light and fluffy like Misty or unique like Caspian, naming your baby after water feels purely poetic.
Happy naming, and may your little one always have the power and wonder of water!
