160+ Boat Names for Any Type of Watercraft

Are you wondering what you should name your new boat, but don’t have a clue where to start? We’re here to help! Naming your boat is one of the oldest maritime traditions, dating back to the time of Ancient Greece and Phoenicia. It’s also a great way to give your sailboat an easy-breezy reputation that matches the way you feel the moment you step on board. We’ve put together a list of over 160 boat names to help you find the perfect moniker to christen your vessel. Plus, we’ll tell you what to avoid when choosing a name.

Best Boat Names

Rogue Wave
Captain's Quarters
Who's the Loser Now, Dad?
Golden Hour
The Last Laugh
Fishful Thinking
Sea-3PO

Section 1 of 13:

Cool Boat Names

Download Article

Pick a cool boat name so people know you’re a trendsetter. A super-cool boat name is a great way to show the maritime world you’re on the cutting edge and ready for adventure. Check out this list of hip names that tell the world you’re “Captain Awesome.”
- The Kraken
- Storm Chaser
- Great White
- Titan
- Opportunity
- Wayfarer
- Rogue Wave
- Majestic
- Megalodon
- Aquaholic
- Riptide
- Wanderlust
- Full Throttle
- Hydro Therapy
- Hammerhead
- Sea Phantom

Section 2 of 13:

Classic Boat Names

Download Article

Go with a traditional name that shows pride in your vessel. Buying and owning the boat is a big deal. Show how seriously you take the time, money, and effort you put into owning your boat with a time-honored name from the list below.
- Coast Is Clear
- Golden Hour
- Soul Searching
- Amazing Grace
- Southern Belle
- Sunkissed
- Due South
- Beau Soleil
- Endless Summer
- Anchors Away
- Starfish
- Crosswinds
- La Dolce Vita
- Captain's Quarters
- Sunny Daze
- Ocean Breeze

Section 3 of 13:

Funny Boat Names

Download Article

Give people the giggles as you leave them in your wake. Using a nautical pun in your boat name is a tried-and-true strategy that’s sure to get a laugh. Another option is to give it a name that makes a joke hinting at more adult humor…without using profanity. Check out one of these boat names to see if any make you laugh out loud.
- Ship-Faced
- Kids' Inheritance
- Hull Yeah
- Fin & Tonic
- Miss B-haven
- Dock-Topus
- 401K
- Nauti Buoy
- Seaduction
- American Buoy
- Feelin’ Nauti
- Sin or Swim
- Alimony
- B-Yacht’ch
- She Got the House
- Happy Hour
- Nacho Boat
- Who's the Loser Now, Dad?
- Breaking Wind

Section 4 of 13:

Clever Boat Names

Download Article

Show your smarts with a clever boat name that grabs attention. When you own a boat, you’re part of a nautical community. Make a witty statement about your profession or a hobby to entertain other boat owners and tell them a little something about who you are. Take inspiration from this list of hobby- and career-related boat names.
- Floating Doc
- Liquid Asset
- Plane To Sea
- Power of Attorney
- Farfrumworken
- Knot On Call
- Stocks & Bonds
- Aye Doctor
- Water Cooler
- Defense Rests
- SeaQL
- Vitamin Sea
- ASCII and You Shall Sea
- Bone Doctor
- Boatox
- Exit Strategy

Section 5 of 13:

Unique Boat Names

Download Article

Christen your dinghy with a name that’s like no other. There’s nothing that says you have to pick a name other people will immediately get. At the very least, it can be a great conversation starter to help you get to know other boaters at the dock. Choose a boat name that’s personal or completely unique, like those in the list below.
- Jester Flight
- Elysium
- Private World
- Scylla
- Chameleon
- The Last Laugh
- Oddity
- Eurydice
- Symbiotic Relationship
- Never Normal
- Incognito
- Twist of Fate
- Odysseus
- Multitudinous Seas
- The Alternative
- Star-crossed Pickle

Section 6 of 13:

Classy Boat Names

Download Article

Choose a high-brow name that shows you have class. Stay classy and sophisticated with a boat name that references a goddess or powerful woman from history. Or choose a virtue that you associate with class and refinement. Take a look at the list below to see if anything feels right to you.
- Amphitrite
- Freya
- Athena
- Venus
- Aurora
- Brigid
- Shakti
- Hathor
- Serenity
- Destiny
- Constance
- Harmony
- Epiphany
- Euphoria
- Liberty
- Verity

Section 7 of 13:

Fishing Boat Names

Download Article

Refer to your favorite pastime with the perfect name for your boat. Anglers are a different breed. They’re patient, adventurous, calm, and willing to try new things if it helps them catch their dinner. Lean into the lifestyle with a boat name that tells the world you’re exactly where you want to be.
- Fishy Business
- Night Trawler
- The Big Catch
- Baits Motel
- Fishful Thinking
- Reel Love
- Marlin Monroe
- Grim Reefer
- Reel Therapy
- Snapperologist
- Lady Kriller
- Sushi Hunter
- Fishing for Compliments
- Tuna Colada
- Fishcapades
- Fishin Impossible

Section 8 of 13:

Sailboat Names

Download Article

Give your sailboat a name that matches your laid-back lifestyle. Many people associate sailboats with freedom and a relaxed, stress-free lifestyle. Embrace that independent feeling with a name that says life is just better when you’re on a boat.
- Second Wind
- Star Gazer
- Sail Away
- Wind Whisperer
- Sail Serenade
- Sail Away
- Nomad Sailing
- Sailor's Star
- Wind Breaker
- Blue Moon
- North Star
- Sunshine Breeze
- Good Vibes Only
- Summer Wind
- Wind Dancer
- Sail Me to the Moon

Section 9 of 13:

Yacht Boat Names

Download Article

Pick a sophisticated name that’s perfect for the yacht life. Picture yourself on your yacht in the middle of a vast ocean, watching the most stunning sunset you’ve ever seen. There’s a glass of wine in your hand and soft rock playing in the background. Now, try out one of these names to capture that peaceful, easy feeling.
- Fortuna
- Infinity
- Aquaphile
- Dreamboat
- Castaway
- Polaris
- My Way
- Avalon
- Spirit
- Escape
- Wave Runner
- Andiamo
- Carpe Diem
- Dreamweaver
- Big Blue
- Last Call

Section 10 of 13:

Pop Culture-Inspired Boat Names

Download Article

Take inspiration from your favorite book, song, movie, or TV show. Do you love pop culture as much as you love sailing the seven seas? If the answer is yes, choose a boat name that brings your 2 loves together. Here are a few options to help you pick something that salutes your passions.
- 20,000 Leagues
- Good Vibrations
- The Cod Father
- Sea-3PO
- Beach Buoys
- O Captain! My Captain!
- The Great Gatsea
- Bellatrix
- Kobayashi Maru
- Sweet Caroline
- Shortshank Redemption
- Smurfs Up
- Millenium Dolphin
- Changes in Latitude
- Buoyoncé
- Here Comes the Sun

Section 11 of 13:

Do all boats have female names?

Download Article

Boats traditionally have female names as a reference to a mother figure or protective goddess that keeps the ship and her crew safe during their voyage. It’s become less common to refer to ships as “she,” so feel free to name your boat the Floating Fred or Breezy Bruce if that’s what you like. ^{[1]
X
Research source}

Section 12 of 13:

Do you need to use a prefix like USS?

Download Article

You don’t have to have a ship prefix as part of your boat’s name. Historically, ship prefixes were used to identify the ship’s affiliation, purpose, or type of propulsion. They’re still used for large ships and in the military, but most private boat owners skip the prefix. Some common ship’s prefixes are: ^{[2]
X
Research source}
- HMS – His/Her Majesty’s ship, most commonly associated with the British Royal Navy
- USS – United States Ship, designates currently commissioned U.S. Navy warships
- SS – Steamship
- RV – Research vessel

Section 13 of 13:

Boat Names to Avoid

Download Article

1
Avoid words used for distress calls and ones that cause offense. It’s best to avoid any word or phrase that you might use to report an emergency or ask for assistance at sea. Some words to avoid are “mayday,” “pan-pan,” and “sécurité,” which are all ways to issue warnings or ask for help at sea. ^{[3]
X
Research source}
- It may also be a good idea to stay away from names that reference famous shipwrecks like Titanic, Lusitania, Edmund Fitzgerald, and Andrea Doria.
- Don’t use ethnic or racial slurs and profane language in your boat’s name.
2
Choose a name that’s no more than 2-3 words long. A shorter boat name makes it easier to clearly communicate over VHF radio while you’re at sea. A longer name might be confusing or difficult for the person on the other end of the transmission to make out if there’s static or interference. ^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Also, when you register your boat, the vessel name may not be more than 33 characters long.
- Additionally, boat names must use the Latin alphabet and Arabic or Roman numerals. ^{[5]
  X
  Research source}

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Log in

160+ Boat Names for Any Type of Watercraft

Best Boat Names

Steps

Cool Boat Names

Classic Boat Names

Funny Boat Names

Clever Boat Names

Unique Boat Names

Classy Boat Names

Fishing Boat Names

Sailboat Names

Yacht Boat Names

Pop Culture-Inspired Boat Names

Do all boats have female names?

Do you need to use a prefix like USS?

Boat Names to Avoid

Expert Q&A

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories