200+ Island Baby Names for Families Who Love the Sea

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Capri. Skye. Maui. Say any of them out loud and you can almost feel salt air on your skin. These are real places first — volcanic ridges, coral shores, port towns built by sailors and traders — and the names carry that history with them. If the ocean pulls at you, this collection sticks close to actual islands and archipelagos, so every name here is tied to somewhere real on the map.

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Popularity below is calculated from Social Security Administration data through 2024, the most recent year on record.

Here’s what’s in store –

Mediterranean Island Names {#mediterranean-island-names}

Polynesian Island Names {#polynesian-island-names}

Caribbean & Atlantic Island Names {#caribbean-island-names}

Hawaiian Names {#hawaiian-names}

British & Irish Island Names {#british-irish-island-names}

Pacific Island Nation Names {#pacific-island-names}

Island Place Names Used as Baby Names {#island-place-names}

Sea-Inspired Names from Island Traditions {#sea-inspired-island-names}

How to Choose a Name From This List {#how-to-choose}

Frequently Asked Questions {#faq}

Island cultures have always had a particular relationship with naming. In Polynesia, a name carries mana — spiritual power, identity, belonging. In the Greek islands, names connect children to gods and ancient stories. In the Caribbean, names blend African, European, and Indigenous threads into something entirely new. Across all of these traditions, the sea is the constant: shaping language, shaping belief, shaping what parents want to give their children before they’ve even arrived.

If you’re drawn to names that feel open and unhurried — names that suggest somewhere beautiful without being flashy about it — this is your list. We’ve pulled from island nations on every ocean, island place names that have crossed into the name canon, and island cultures whose naming traditions deserve more attention than they get. Some of these you’ll recognize immediately. Others will be new, and those might be the ones you end up keeping.

Over 200 names are here, organized by theme and vibe rather than alphabetically, because a name’s sound and feel matters as much as its meaning. Read through the sections that pull you. Linger where something sparks.

Quick navigation

Mediterranean Island Names
Polynesian Island Names
Caribbean & Atlantic Island Names
Hawaiian Names
British & Irish Island Names
Pacific Island Nation Names
Island Place Names Used as Baby Names
Sea-Inspired Names from Island Traditions
How to Choose a Name From This List
Frequently Asked Questions

There are names here you’ll want to say out loud three times before you decide anything. Do that.

Mediterranean Island Names {#mediterranean-island-names}

The Mediterranean islands — Sicily, Sardinia, Capri, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Malta, Ibiza — have been named and renamed by Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and everyone in between. The names that survived that layering tend to be short, musical, and surprisingly sturdy. These are names for people who will know exactly who they are.

Capri

Origin: Italian (place name)
Pronunciation: KAH-pree · ˈkɑːpri
Meaning: named after the island of Capri
Popularity: #572 and falling (#570 → #572, 2024)

Feminine, rare, and immediately evocative of cliffside lemon groves.

Rhodes

Origin: English/Greek (dual origin)
Pronunciation: ROHDZ · ˈroʊdz
Meaning: as an English surname, ‘one who lived near a woodland clearing’; also the Greek island Rhodes, whose own name origin is uncertain
Popularity: #613 and rising (#707 → #613, 2024)

Crete

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: KREET · kriːt
Meaning: Ancient Greek origin, meaning uncertain; possibly “great” or from a pre-Greek root
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rarely used as a name but carries enormous mythological weight — birthplace of Zeus.

Malta

Origin: Phoenician or Greek (place name, origin genuinely disputed)
Pronunciation: MAWL-tuh · ˈmɔːltə
Meaning: disputed — either ‘refuge/harbor’ (from a Phoenician word for port) or ‘honey’ (from Greek ‘meli’, possibly referencing the islands’ bees)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The island nation’s name has a soft, warm sound that works beautifully for a girl.

Ibiza

Origin: Phoenician (via Arabic and Catalan)
Pronunciation: ee-BEE-zə · ɪˈbiːzə
Meaning: likely ‘island of the god Bes’ in Phoenician, later reshaped in Arabic to sound like ‘dry land’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

‘Island of pines’ isn’t Ibiza’s etymology — that’s actually the ancient Greek name for the Ibiza–Formentera group, ‘Pityoussai’ (‘pine islands’), a separate, unrelated exonym from the Phoenician root that produced ‘Ibiza’.

Corfu

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: kor-FOO · kɔːrˈfuː
Meaning: named for the twin mountain peaks above its old fortress
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The lush Ionian island; the name has an unusual, softly exotic sound rarely found on a birth certificate.

Elba

Origin: Unknown
Pronunciation: EL-bah · ˈɛlbə
Meaning: Origin uncertain, possibly Greek or Ligurian; Napoleon’s first exile island off the Tuscan coast
Popularity: #9,712 and falling (#9,150 → #9,712, 2024)

Short, strong, and increasingly stylish.

Lipari

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: LEE-pah-ree · ˈliːpəri
Meaning: Bright, fertile
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Largest of the Aeolian Islands north of Sicily; a striking, underused choice with classical roots.

Delos

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: DEE-los · ˈdiːlɒs
Meaning: clear, visible
Popularity: #12,486 as of 2020 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Means “visible” or “clear” in Greek — a name with extraordinary mythological resonance.

Mykonos

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: MEE-kuh-nohs · ˈmiːkənoʊs
Meaning: Named after the grandson of Apollo in Greek myth
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The sun-bleached Cycladic island gives this name an immediately Mediterranean warmth.

Naxos

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: NAK-sos · ˈnæksɒs
Meaning: Largest of the Cyclades; associated with Dionysus in Greek myth
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Strong two-syllable name with a confident, ancient sound.

Milos

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: MEE-losh · ˈmiːlɔːʃ
Meaning: gracious, dear one
Popularity: #9,548 and falling (#6,118 → #9,548, 2024)

Ikaria

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: ih-KAH-ree-ə · ɪˈkɑːriə
Meaning: land of Icarus
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Samos

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: SAY-moss · ˈseɪmɒs
Meaning: Greek Aegean island, origin uncertain; birthplace of Pythagoras and Epicurus
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A quietly powerful name for a child you expect will think for themselves.

Sardinia

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: sar-DIN-ee-uh · sɑːrˈdɪniə
Meaning: Ancient island; name possibly from the Nuragic *Shardana* people
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Long and unusual, but “Sardie” as a nickname brings it into daily life.

Lampedusa

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: lahm-peh-DOO-zah · ˌlæm.pɪˈduː.zə
Meaning: Sicilian island whose name comes from the Arabic *al-Maqaddis*
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pantelleria

Origin: Arabic via Sicilian
Pronunciation: pan-tel-luh-REE-uh · pantelleˈriːa
Meaning: daughter of the winds
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lesbos

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: LEZ-boss · ˈlɛzbɒs
Meaning: Greek island in the Aegean, home of the poet Sappho
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Historically a name of enormous cultural and literary significance, now rarely used but worth knowing.

Chios

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: KEE-oss · ˈkiːɒs
Meaning: Greek island; possibly from a pre-Greek word
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Homer may have been born here. A crisp, rare name with ancient Aegean roots.

Thasos

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: THAH-sohs · ˈθɑːsɒs
Meaning: Northernmost Greek island, named for the Phoenician Thasos in mythology
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual, strong, with a quietly mythological backstory.

Favignana

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: fah-vee-NYAH-nah · fɑːviːˈnjɑːnə
Meaning: warm westerly wind
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Wildly unusual and beautiful — Favi is a natural nickname.

Gozo

Origin: Phoenician
Pronunciation: GOH-zoh · ˈɡoʊzoʊ
Meaning: The smaller Maltese island, from the Arabic *Ghawdex*
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Two syllables, unusual, quietly lovely.

Corsica

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: KOR-si-kuh · ˈkɔːrsɪkə
Meaning: French Mediterranean island, possibly from Phoenician roots
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bold, geographic, with a fierce independent spirit baked into the island’s history.

Cephalonia

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: sef-ə-LOH-nee-ə · ˌsɛfəˈloʊniə
Meaning: island of Cephalus
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Long and romantic, with “Ceph” or “Nia” as natural shortenings.

Patmos

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: PAT-moss · ˈpætmɒs
Meaning: Greek island where St
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

John wrote the Book of Revelation; from ancient Greek, meaning unclear. Quiet, serious, deeply resonant for families with a spiritual bent.

Polynesian Island Names {#polynesian-island-names}

Polynesia spans the largest geographic triangle on earth — Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island at its corners — and its naming traditions run deep. Names in Polynesian cultures often describe the natural world, ancestral connections, or qualities parents hope to call forth in a child. They also tend to land beautifully on English-speaking ears: vowel-rich, rhythmic, complete.

Maui

Origin: Hawaiian/Polynesian
Pronunciation: MOW-ee · ˈmaʊi
Meaning: Named for the demigod Māui, who according to legend fished the Hawaiian islands from the sea
Popularity: #5,566 and rising (#6,113 → #5,566, 2024)

The name means “to live” in some interpretations. Massively boosted by the Disney film, but it belongs first to the culture.

Moana

Origin: Polynesian (Hawaiian/Māori)
Pronunciation: moh-AH-nah · moʊˈɑːnə
Meaning: sea, ocean
Popularity: #3,197 and rising (#3,956 → #3,197, 2024)

Tonga

Origin: Tongan (from Samoan)
Pronunciation: TONG-guh · ˈtɒŋɡə
Meaning: south, southern
Popularity: #12,726 as of 1986 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Strong, two-syllable, and largely unused in Western naming — a discovery name for parents who travel.

Samoa

Origin: Samoan/Polynesian
Pronunciation: suh-MOH-uh · səˈmoʊə
Meaning: From the Polynesian *Sa-moa* (sacred center); the island nation that produced so many extraordinary athletes and navigators
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A bold, open-vowel name.

Atu

Origin: Unknown
Pronunciation: AH-too · ˈɑːtuː
Meaning: Tongan word for “to go toward the open sea.” Short, purposeful, rare — the kind of name that grows with a person
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Faleolo

Origin: Samoan (place name)
Pronunciation: fah-lay-OH-loh · faleˈolo
Meaning: Samoan, meaning “house of birds” — the name of Samoa’s main international airport and a traditional place name
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Melodic and unusual.

Tavi

Origin: Estonian/Finnish short form of David (ultimately from Hebrew)
Pronunciation: TAH-vee · ˈtɑːvi
Meaning: beloved
Popularity: #6,125 and rising (#6,178 → #6,125, 2024)

Friendly, easy to say, works across many cultures.

Hina

Origin: Japanese; also Hawaiian/Polynesian and South Asian
Pronunciation: HEE-nah · ˈhiːnə
Meaning: sun, light
Popularity: #4,687 and rising (#6,040 → #4,687, 2024)

Used across Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and Tonga — a cross-cultural Polynesian treasure.

Koa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: KOH-ah · ˈkoʊə
Meaning: warrior, courage; also the name of a native Hawaiian tree
Popularity: #292 and rising (#298 → #292, 2024)

One of the most popular Hawaiian names to travel into mainstream use — and for good reason.

Mana

Origin: Polynesian (mana); also documented as a Japanese feminine and Iranian/Persian unisex given name
Pronunciation: MAH-nah · ˈmɑːnə
Meaning: power, prestige, spiritual authority
Popularity: #6,331 and rising (#7,137 → #6,331, 2024)

Rare, powerful, beautiful in its directness.

Rongo

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: RONG-oh · ˈrɔːŋɔː
Meaning: peace or sound
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Two syllables, strong, with ancient Pacific roots.

Ioane

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: ee-oh-AH-neh · iː.oʊˈɑːnɛ
Meaning: Yahweh is gracious
Popularity: #6,267 and falling (#5,131 → #6,267, 2024)

Familiar root, entirely distinctive sound.

Teuila

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: teh-OO-ee-lah · teˈu.i.la
Meaning: red ginger flower
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Gorgeous on a girl.

Vaiola

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: vye-OH-lah · va.iˈo.la
Meaning: water of life
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pita

Origin: Polynesian (Māori/Tongan/Samoan form of Peter)
Pronunciation: PEE-tah · ˈpiːtɑː
Meaning: rock (a Polynesian form of Peter)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, strong, surprisingly rare in the West.

Lilo

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: LEE-loh · ˈliːloʊ
Meaning: Lost
Popularity: #3,848 and falling (#3,552 → #3,848, 2024)

Nuku

Origin: Polynesian
Pronunciation: NOO-koo · ˈnuːkuː
Meaning: land, place
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sina

Origin: Polynesian (Samoan/Hawaiian)
Pronunciation: SEE-nah · ˈsiːnə
Meaning: a figure in Polynesian mythology (Sina/Hina)
Popularity: #7,175 and rising (#8,875 → #7,175, 2024)

Soft, elegant, and deeply rooted in Pacific mythology.

Tokelau

Origin: Tokelauan
Pronunciation: TOH-kuh-low · ˈtoʊkəlaʊ
Meaning: north wind
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Aiga

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: AH-ee-ngah
Meaning: family or kin
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, meaningful, and almost never used as a personal name in the West.

Ulu

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: OO-loo · ˈuːluː
Meaning: breadfruit
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tiny and strong.

Tala

Pronunciation: TAH-lah · ˈtɑːlə
Meaning: Samoan for “dollar” but also a traditional name meaning “story” or “tale” in some uses
Popularity: #1,336 and rising (#1,461 → #1,336, 2024)

Bright and easy to wear.

Lavinia

Origin: Latin (place name Lavinium, Latium)
Pronunciation: luh-VIN-ee-ah · ləˈvɪniə
Meaning: Used widely in Samoa and Tonga as a classic feminine name alongside traditional names
Popularity: #2,139 and rising (#2,346 → #2,139, 2024)

Elegant, cross-cultural, with both Roman and Pacific heritage.

Fifita

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: fee-FEE-tah · fiˈfiːtə
Meaning: Common Tongan female name
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Three syllables with a musical repetition — Fi-fi-ta — that makes it easy to say and easy to love.

Keli

Origin: unclear (possibly Hawaiian)
Pronunciation: KEH-lee · ˈkɛli
Meaning: Hawaiian for “chief” or “the greatest.” Short, confident, works well as a standalone name or nickname
Popularity: #16,424 and falling (#11,720 → #16,424, 2024)

Caribbean & Atlantic Island Names {#caribbean-island-names}

The Caribbean and Atlantic islands — Cuba, Aruba, Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad, the Azores, the Canaries, Cape Verde — carry naming traditions shaped by Indigenous Taíno and Arawak peoples, Spanish and Portuguese colonizers, West African heritage, and centuries of cultural exchange. The result is some of the most melodic naming in the world.

Aruba

Origin: Arawak (disputed)
Pronunciation: uh-ROO-buh · əˈruːbə
Meaning: possibly ‘well-situated,’ though the exact origin is debated
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual, rhythmic, and carries the energy of white sand and turquoise water.

Trinidad

Origin: Spanish (religious)
Pronunciation: TRIN-ih-dad · ˈtrɪnɪdæd
Meaning: the Holy Trinity, three-in-one
Popularity: #5,023 and falling (#4,446 → #5,023, 2024)

Three syllables, musical, sometimes shortened to “Trini.”

Tobago

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: tuh-BAY-go · təˈbeɪɡoʊ
Meaning: tobacco pipe
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual and rarely used as a name — a real discovery.

Nevis

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: NEE-vis · ˈniːvɪs
Meaning: Snows
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, crisp, quietly elegant.

Cayman

Origin: Taíno
Pronunciation: KAY-muhn · ˈkeɪmən
Meaning: alligator, crocodile
Popularity: #5,260 and rising (#6,966 → #5,260, 2024)

Strong, geographical, and surprisingly usable.

Lucia

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: loo-SEE-ah · luːˈsiːə
Meaning: feminine form of the Roman name Lucius, traditionally tied to ‘lux’ (light); also the name of a Sicilian martyr
Popularity: #98 and rising (#109 → #98, 2024)

Absolutely beautiful, widely used, deeply connected to Caribbean and Mediterranean cultures.

Kitts

Origin: English
Pronunciation: KITS · kɪts
Meaning: Bearing Christ
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Grenada

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: greh-NAY-duh · ɡrəˈneɪdə
Meaning: pomegranate
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Three syllables, warm, and underused as a name — “Nada” is a sweet nickname.

Barbuda

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: bar-BOO-dah
Meaning: bearded
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual and striking.

Antigua

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: an-TEE-gwuh · ænˈtiːɡwə
Meaning: ancient or old
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Four syllables, spoken *An-tee-ga*, unexpectedly beautiful as a name.

Montserrat

Origin: Catalan
Pronunciation: mon-seh-RAHT · munsəˈrat
Meaning: serrated mountain
Popularity: #1,465 and falling (#1,341 → #1,465, 2024)

Deeply meaningful, long, often shortened to “Monty.”

Dominica

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: dom-ih-NEE-kuh · ˌdɒmɪˈniːkə
Meaning: belonging to the Lord
Popularity: #10,465 and rising (#10,512 → #10,465, 2024)

Warm and classical.

Azores

Origin: Portuguese
Pronunciation: ah-ZORZ · əˈzɔːrz
Meaning: goshawks
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Madeira

Origin: Portuguese
Pronunciation: muh-DEER-uh · məˈdɪərə
Meaning: wood, or timber
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Known for wine and embroidery — rich, warm, layered.

Macaronesia

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: mak-uh-roh-NEE-zhuh · ˌmækərəˈniːʒə
Meaning: Islands of the blessed
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Long and mythological; Maca is an unusual nickname.

Fuerteventura

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: fwer-teh-ven-TOO-rah · fweɾteβenˈtuɾa
Meaning: strong fortune
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tenerife

Origin: Guanche
Pronunciation: ten-uh-REEF · ˌtɛnəˈriːf
Meaning: white mountain
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Three syllables, warm, rarely used as a name.

Lanzarote

Origin: Italian
Pronunciation: lahn-thah-ROH-tay
Meaning: Servant
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has Arthurian echoes via “Lancelot” — historical, striking.

Fogo

Origin: Portuguese
Pronunciation: FOH-goo · ˈfoɡu
Meaning: fire
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, elemental, and fiercely unusual.

Santiago

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: san-tee-AH-goh · sæntiˈɑːɡoʊ
Meaning: form of Saint James; the further gloss ‘supplanter’ attached to James/Jacob traces to a folk-etymological wordplay in Genesis, not a certain root meaning
Popularity: #29 and rising (#45 → #29, 2024)

One of the most beautiful names in the Iberian-Atlantic tradition.

Brava

Origin: Portuguese
Pronunciation: BRAH-vah · ˈbrɑːvə
Meaning: wild, brave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Saba

Origin: Semitic (linked to Sheba, via Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek/Latin)
Pronunciation: SAH-bah · ˈsɑːbə
Meaning: refers to Sheba, the ancient South Arabian / Horn-of-Africa kingdom of the biblical Queen of Sheba
Popularity: #4,741 and rising (#5,519 → #4,741, 2024)

Short, exotic, quietly beautiful.

Bonaire

Origin: Caquetío
Pronunciation: boh-NAIR · bɒˈnɛər
Meaning: low country
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual, soft, three syllables.

Curaçao

Origin: Caquetío
Pronunciation: KYOOR-uh-sow · ˈkjʊərəsaʊ
Meaning: Dutch Caribbean island; name possibly from the Portuguese *coração*
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The island gave us the blue liqueur but the name is far more beautiful than its reputation suggests.

Eleuthera

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: eh-LOO-ther-uh · ɪˈluːθərə
Meaning: free
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Exuma

Origin: Unknown
Pronunciation: ek-SOO-muh · ɛkˈsuːmə
Meaning: Bahamian island chain; name of uncertain origin
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual, rhythmic, and almost completely unused as a personal name.

Hawaiian Names {#hawaiian-names}

Hawaiian names deserve their own section because the naming tradition is so deliberately meaningful. In Hawaiian culture, names are chosen to call something forth — a quality, an ancestor, a place, a prayer. They’re not decorative; they’re purposeful. The language uses only 13 letters, producing names that are entirely vowel-rich and mellifluous.

Kai

Origin: Germanic/Scandinavian (also popularly linked to Hawaiian)
Pronunciation: KY · ˈkaɪ
Meaning: possibly from Latin Caius, or a Frisian pet form of Gerard/Cornelius/Nicholas (‘warrior’); popularly reinterpreted in the US as Hawaiian for ‘sea’
Popularity: #76 and falling (#61 → #76, 2024)

Lani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: LAH-nee · ˈlɑːni
Meaning: sky, heaven
Popularity: #1,911 and rising (#2,041 → #1,911, 2024)

Kailani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ky-LAH-nee · kaɪˈlɑːni
Meaning: sea and sky
Popularity: #275 and falling (#225 → #275, 2024)

Nalu

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: NAH-loo · ˈnɑːluː
Meaning: wave
Popularity: #7,825 and rising (#13,054 → #7,825, 2024)

Keanu

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kee-AH-noo · kiˈɑːnuː
Meaning: the coolness / cool breeze
Popularity: #632 and falling (#537 → #632, 2024)

Makena

Origin: Uncertain (Kikuyu ‘happy one’ vs. Hawaiian place name)
Pronunciation: muh-KEN-uh · məˈkɛnə
Meaning: Hawaiian place name meaning “abundance” or “many gathered.” A Hawaiian beach town; warm and celebratory as a name
Popularity: #2,046 and falling (#1,778 → #2,046, 2024)

Leilani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: lay-LAH-nee · leɪˈlɑːni
Meaning: heavenly garland of flowers, with a royal connotation
Popularity: #66 and falling (#61 → #66, 2024)

Hana

Origin: Various (Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic, Kurdish, Persian, Hawaiian, Māori, Albanian)
Pronunciation: HAH-nuh · ˈhɑːnə
Meaning: varies by origin: ‘flower’ (Japanese), ‘grace/favor’ (Hebrew, via Hannah), ‘bliss’ (Arabic), ‘hope’ (Kurdish), among others
Popularity: #708 and rising (#727 → #708, 2024)

Mele

Origin: Hawaiian (from English “Mary”)
Pronunciation: MEH-leh · ˈmɛlɛ
Meaning: Hawaiian form of the name Mary
Popularity: #9,324 and falling (#8,791 → #9,324, 2024)

Also used in Polynesia broadly.

Ikaika

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ee-KY-kah · iˈkaɪkə
Meaning: strong, powerful
Popularity: #4,461 and rising (#4,512 → #4,461, 2024)

Mahina

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-HEE-nah · mɑːˈhiːnə
Meaning: moon, moonlight
Popularity: #3,672 and falling (#3,161 → #3,672, 2024)

Kaleo

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-LAY-oh · kɑːˈleɪoʊ
Meaning: the voice (ka ‘the’ + leo ‘voice, tune’)
Popularity: #1,103 and rising (#1,352 → #1,103, 2024)

Malia

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-LEE-ah · məˈliːə
Meaning: Hawaiian form of Mary; sometimes linked to ‘calm’
Popularity: #326 and falling (#273 → #326, 2024)

Nalani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: nah-LAH-nee · nɑːˈlɑːni
Meaning: the heavens, the skies
Popularity: #529 and rising (#591 → #529, 2024)

Kaimana

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ky-MAH-nah · kaɪˈmɑːnə
Meaning: diamond
Popularity: #3,290 and falling (#2,915 → #3,290, 2024)

Kaimana is often broken down as kai (‘sea’) + mana (‘power’), but that’s a folk etymology. It actually traces to the word ‘diamond,’ via the Diamond Head place name.

Pua

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: POO-ah · ˈpuːə
Meaning: flower
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Kekoa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: keh-KOH-ah · kɛˈkoʊə
Meaning: the warrior
Popularity: #2,604 and falling (#2,161 → #2,604, 2024)

Alana

Origin: Celtic (feminine form of Alan)
Pronunciation: uh-LAN-uh · əˈlænə
Meaning: Hawaiian for “awakening” or “offering”; also Celtic “harmony.” Cross-cultural with a warm Hawaiian heart
Popularity: #143 and rising (#184 → #143, 2024)

Haunani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: how-NAH-nee · haʊˈnɑːni
Meaning: beautiful snow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare and extraordinary.

Kamea

Origin: Hawaiian (modern name)
Pronunciation: kah-MAY-ah · kəˈmeɪ.ə
Meaning: Hawaiian for “the one and only” or “precious one.” Four syllables of pure affection
Popularity: #5,349 and falling (#4,408 → #5,349, 2024)

Lehua

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: leh-HOO-ah · lɛˈhuːə
Meaning: the ʻōhiʻa lehua blossom, sacred in Hawaiian tradition; used figuratively for ‘sweetheart’ or ‘warrior’
Popularity: #16,549 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The name carries spiritual meaning and natural beauty simultaneously.

Palani

Origin: Hawaiian (phonological adaptation of English ‘Frank/Francis’)
Pronunciation: pah-LAH-nee · pɑːˈlɑːni
Meaning: free one (Hawaiianized form of Francis/Frank)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A traditional Hawaiian name with an unexpected cross-cultural root.

Kona

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: KOH-nə · ˈkoʊnə
Meaning: leeward side
Popularity: #6,314 and falling (#5,809 → #6,314, 2024)

The Kona coast of the Big Island; a breezy, warm name.

Waimea

Origin: Hawaiian (place name)
Pronunciation: wy-MAY-ah · waɪˈmeɪə
Meaning: reddish water
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual, geographic, evocative.

Kaʻiulani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-ee-oo-LAH-nee · kəˌʔi.uˈlɐni
Meaning: The sacred chief
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Historical, powerful, deeply rooted in Hawaiian identity.

British & Irish Island Names {#british-irish-island-names}

Britain’s archipelago includes hundreds of islands, each with a name that tells you something about wind, water, saints, or the people who arrived by boat. Scotland’s island chains — the Hebrides, Orkneys, Shetlands — produce some of the most hauntingly beautiful names in the English-speaking world. Ireland’s islands carry similar weight.

Skye

Origin: Scottish (from the Isle of Skye, a place name of disputed/unresolved origin) or English (playful respelling of ‘sky’)
Pronunciation: SKY · ˈskaɪ
Meaning: Scottish island
Popularity: #480 and falling (#447 → #480, 2024)

Iona

Origin: Scottish (place name)
Pronunciation: eye-OH-nah · aɪˈoʊnə
Meaning: the name of the Scottish island; the island’s own name likely stems from a medieval scribal misreading rather than being a straightforward word
Popularity: #2,777 and rising (#2,992 → #2,777, 2024)

Quietly spiritual and very beautiful.

Ailsa

Origin: Scottish (from the island name Ailsa Craig)
Pronunciation: AYL-sah · ˈeɪlsə
Meaning: From Ailsa Craig, the dramatic Scottish island in the Firth of Clyde; possibly from the Old Norse *Alfsigesey*
Popularity: #15,313 and falling (#15,244 → #15,313, 2024)

Rare, Scottish, deeply lovely.

Arran

Origin: Scottish (place name, the Isle of Arran)
Pronunciation: AIR-un · ˈærən
Meaning: Scottish island in the Firth of Clyde; from the Old Irish *arainn*
Popularity: #10,926 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A handsome, underused Scottish name.

Staffa

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: STAF-uh · ˈstæfə
Meaning: pillar island
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual, stark, powerful — like the basalt columns of the island itself.

Jura

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: JOOR-uh · ˈdʒʊərə
Meaning: Deer island
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

George Orwell wrote 1984 there — a name with literary credibility and wild landscape energy.

Mull

Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Pronunciation: MUHL · mʌl
Meaning: Crag, promontory, or headland
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short and strong, rarely used as a name.

Coll

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (place name); or English (Nicholas nickname)
Pronunciation: KAHL · kɒl
Meaning: hazel (place name); or a Nicholas nickname
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, crisp, traditionally masculine.

Tiree

Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Pronunciation: ty-REE · taɪˈriː
Meaning: land of corn
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual and beautiful — “Ti” is a gentle nickname.

Harris

Origin: English (patronymic surname, ‘son of Harry’); also a Scottish island name
Pronunciation: HAIR-iss · ˈhærɪs
Meaning: son of Harry/Henry; alternatively, for the Isle of Harris, possibly from Old Norse for ‘higher ground’ or ‘administrative district’
Popularity: #1,319 and falling (#1,166 → #1,319, 2024)

Harris has crossed decisively into the name mainstream as a given name.

Lewis

Origin: English, from Old French Louis (Frankish); also historically an anglicization of Welsh Llywelyn
Pronunciation: LOO-iss · ˈluːɪs
Meaning: renowned warrior / famous in war (primary, via Louis); when used to anglicize Llywelyn, the meaning is disputed
Popularity: #433 and rising (#470 → #433, 2024)

Already a beloved classic — the island connection adds depth.

Orkney

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: ORK-nee · ˈɔːrkni
Meaning: Seal islands
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rarely used as a name but has a powerful, ancient sound.

Bressay

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: BRES-ay
Meaning: broad island
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual and atmospheric — a name that whispers of the far north.

Yell

Origin: Proto-Celtic
Pronunciation: YEL · jɛl
Meaning: clearing
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Challenging for obvious reasons, but fascinating etymologically.

Aran

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: AIR-un · ˈærən
Meaning: kidney-shaped island or ridge
Popularity: #3,595 and falling (#3,348 → #3,595, 2024)

Distinguished from the Scottish Arran by one letter — associated with the famous Aran sweater tradition.

Inishmore

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: in-ish-MOR · ɪnɪʃˈmɔːr
Meaning: great island
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Skellig

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: SKEHL-ig · ˈskɛlɪɡ
Meaning: splinter of stone or rock
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ancient, dramatic, completely distinctive.

Clare

Origin: Latin (via Old French Clarus/Clara)
Pronunciation: KLAIR · ˈklɛr
Meaning: bright, clear
Popularity: #949 and rising (#984 → #949, 2024)

Achill

Origin: Irish (place name, Achill Island) and/or German short form of Greek Achilles; both roots disputed
Pronunciation: AK-il · ˈækɪl
Meaning: Ireland’s largest island
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A strong, rare Irish name with a dramatic landscape attached.

Rathlin

Origin: Old Irish
Pronunciation: RATH-lin · ˈræθlɪn
Meaning: Northern Irish island; from the Old Irish *Rechru*
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Historical — Robert the Bruce hid here and watched the famous spider. Strong and underused.

Man

Origin: ambiguous (English word, Chinese given-name romanization, or the place name Isle of Man)
Pronunciation: MAN · ˈmæn
Meaning: Isle of Man; from the Celtic *Manapia* or *Manannán*, the Celtic sea god
Popularity: #16,738 and falling (#10,835 → #16,738, 2024)

Short, mythological, rarely used as a name but carries extraordinary mythic weight.

Wight

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: WYT · waɪt
Meaning: living being, creature, or valiant person
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lundy

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: LUHN-dee · ˈlʌndi
Meaning: Puffin island
Popularity: #11,697 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Warm, quirky, with an unexpected avian connection.

Caldey

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: KAL-dee · ˈkældi
Meaning: cold island
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Calm and unusual — “Cal” or “Caldie” as nicknames.

Anglesey

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: ANG-guhl-see · ˈæŋɡəlsi
Meaning: hook island
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pacific Island Nation Names {#pacific-island-names}

The Pacific Ocean covers a third of the Earth’s surface, and its island nations — Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Palau, Tuvalu, Niue, the Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia — have naming traditions that are rarely discussed in Western baby name spaces. This is a gap worth closing.

Fiji

Origin: Proto-Central Pacific
Pronunciation: FEE-jee · ˈfiː.dʒiː
Meaning: east or sunrise
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, warm, carries instant visual associations of turquoise lagoons.

Palau

Origin: Palauan
Pronunciation: puh-LOW · pəˈlaʊ
Meaning: Village or inhabited land
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and short — one of the most beautiful island-nation names.

Nauru

Origin: Nauruan
Pronunciation: nah-OO-roo
Meaning: Smallest island nation in the world; from the Nauruan *Anáoero*
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual and gentle.

Tuvalu

Origin: Tuvaluan
Pronunciation: too-VAH-loo · tuːˈvɑːluː
Meaning: eight standing together
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Three syllables, full of meaning, virtually unused as a personal name in the West.

Niue

Origin: Niuean
Pronunciation: nee-OO-ay · niːˈuːeɪ
Meaning: Behold the coconut palm
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, unusual, with a soft open vowel at the end.

Kiribati

Origin: Gilbertese
Meaning: Micronesian island nation; pronounced “Kiribas”
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual in English, but the Gilbertese naming tradition produces beautiful given names.

Teitiria

Origin: Unknown
Pronunciation: tay-tee-REE-uh · teɪtiːˈriːə
Meaning: Gilbertese (Kiribati) name meaning “to shine brightly.” Rare and extraordinary
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Atibu

Origin: Unknown
Pronunciation: ah-TEE-boo · ɑːˈtiːbuː
Meaning: Gilbertese name from Kiribati traditions
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual and beautiful, rarely encountered in Western naming.

Vanuatu

Origin: Bislama
Pronunciation: vah-noo-AH-too · ˌvɑː.nuːˈɑː.tuː
Meaning: standing land
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Four syllables, open vowels, unusual and striking.

Rangi

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: RAHN-gee · ˈɾaŋi
Meaning: sky, heavens
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, strong, cross-cultural within Polynesia.

Mere

Origin: Māori (transliteration of Mary)
Pronunciation: MEH-reh · ˈmɛɾɛ
Meaning: Māori form of the name Mary
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and graceful.

Tamatoa

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: tah-mah-TOH-ah · ˌtɑːmɑːˈtoʊə
Meaning: warrior youth
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ngaro

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: NGAH-roh · ˈŋɑːrɔː
Meaning: Lost, hidden, or fly
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Piri

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: PEE-ree · ˈpiːɾi
Meaning: to cling or stick close
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, Polynesian, quietly friendly.

Teina

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: TAY-nah · ˈtɛina
Meaning: younger sibling of the same gender
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Warm and relational.

Miri

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: MEE-ree · ˈmiːʁi
Meaning: Beloved, rebellious, or bitter
Popularity: #3,613 and falling (#3,560 → #3,613, 2024)

Aroha

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: ah-ROH-hah · ɑːˈroʊhɑː
Meaning: love, compassion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hemi

Origin: Māori (form of James)
Pronunciation: HEH-mee · ˈhɛmi
Meaning: supplanter (via James)
Popularity: #7,926 and falling (#5,752 → #7,926, 2024)

Short, strong, distinctly Pacific.

Kupe

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: KOO-peh · ˈkuːpɛ
Meaning: Legendary Polynesian navigator credited with discovering New Zealand; name of uncertain etymology but enormous cultural significance in Maori tradition
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Paua

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: PAH-wah · ˈpaːwa
Meaning: abalone
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

As a name, it’s unusual and carries the luminous colors of its source.

Island Place Names Used as Baby Names {#island-place-names}

Some island place names have traveled so far from geography that they now live comfortably in the name canon. Others are just beginning that journey. All of them carry a specific somewhere — which is exactly what makes them compelling.

Maldives

Origin: Sanskrit
Pronunciation: mawl-DEEVZ · mɔːlˈdiːvz
Meaning: Garland of islands
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bermuda

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: ber-MYOO-duh · bərˈmjuːdə
Meaning: British Atlantic island; from the Spanish explorer Juan de Bermúdez
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bold and unusual.

Nassau

Origin: German (place name)
Pronunciation: NASS-aw · ˈnæsɔː
Meaning: wet meadow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rarely used as a given name but has a confident, aristocratic sound.

Santorini

Origin: Italian
Pronunciation: san-tuh-REE-nee · ˌsæntəˈriːni
Meaning: Saint Irene
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

As a name, it’s dramatic, long, and could yield “Santi” as a lovely nickname.

Galapagos

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: guh-LAH-puh-gohs · ɡəˈlɑːpəɡoʊs
Meaning: tortoises
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Long and unusual — not practical as a given name but fascinating etymologically.

Seychelles

Origin: French (place name — Seychelles)
Pronunciation: say-SHELZ · seɪˈʃɛlz
Meaning: Indian Ocean island nation; from the Vicomte Moreau de Séchelles. “Seychelle” as a feminine name is rare and beautiful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Zanzibar

Origin: Persian/Arabic
Pronunciation: ZAN-zih-bar · ˈzænzɪbɑːr
Meaning: coast of the Zanj (a historical term for East African Black peoples)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bold, unusual, full of spice-trade history.

Lamu

Origin: Swahili
Pronunciation: LAH-moo · ˈlɑː.muː
Meaning: Kenyan island; one of the oldest Swahili settlements in East Africa
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, warm, rare.

Pemba

Origin: place name (Swahili/Bantu, East Africa)
Pronunciation: PEM-buh · ˈpɛmbə
Meaning: Tanzanian island; from the Swahili
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, strong, rarely used in Western naming.

Comoros

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: KOM-uh-rohz · ˈkɒməroʊz
Meaning: moon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

“Cora” is hidden inside it.

Réunion

Origin: French
Pronunciation: ray-oon-YAWN · ˌreɪuːnˈjɔ̃
Meaning: reunion or meeting
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bali

Origin: place name (Bali, Indonesia, Sanskrit-derived toponym)
Pronunciation: BAH-lee · ˈbɑːli
Meaning: Indonesian island; from the Sanskrit *Bali*
Popularity: #6,182 and falling (#5,270 → #6,182, 2024)

Short, warm, widely traveled as a name — especially in the Netherlands.

Lombok

Origin: Sasak
Pronunciation: LOM-bok · ˈlɒmbɒk
Meaning: chili pepper
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual and striking.

Flores

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: FLOR-es · ˈflɔːrɛs
Meaning: flowers
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sulawesi

Origin: Indonesian
Pronunciation: soo-lah-WAY-see · ˌsuːləˈweɪsi
Meaning: iron island
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Long and unusual — “Sula” could work as a nickname.

Borneo

Origin: Sanskrit
Pronunciation: BOR-nee-oh · ˈbɔːrnioʊ
Meaning: island of Varuna
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rarely used but has a wild, adventurous quality.

Sea-Inspired Names from Island Traditions {#sea-inspired-island-names}

The final group isn’t tied to specific islands but comes from the naming traditions of island cultures — names that mean water, wave, tide, sea, or the qualities that living on an island calls forth: navigation, resilience, abundance, freedom.

Marina

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: muh-REE-nah · məˈriːnə
Meaning: of the sea
Popularity: #640 and falling (#572 → #640, 2024)

Marin

Origin: Latin (via Serbo-Croatian Marin, from Latin marinus, “of the sea”)
Pronunciation: MAH-rin · ˈmɑːrɪn
Meaning: of the sea
Popularity: #1,900 and falling (#1,882 → #1,900, 2024)

Crisp and underused.

Nerida

Origin: Modern coinage (Greek-inspired)
Pronunciation: nuh-REE-duh · nəˈriːdə
Meaning: inspired by ‘Nereid,’ the sea nymphs of Greek mythology
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

An Australian name of Greek origin — rare and beautiful.

Nerissa

Origin: Greek (coined by Shakespeare)
Pronunciation: nuh-RISS-uh · nəˈrɪsə
Meaning: sea nymph
Popularity: #14,738 and rising (#16,908 → #14,738, 2024)

Elegant and underused.

Thalassa

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: thuh-LASS-uh · θəˈlæsə
Meaning: sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Long, mythological, and rarely used as a given name.

Pelagia

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: peh-LAY-jee-uh
Meaning: of the sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Historical, unusual, beautiful.

Mira

Origin: Multi-origin: Slavic / Latin / Sanskrit / Hindi
Pronunciation: MEER-ah · ˈmɪrə
Meaning: peace (Slavic); wonderful/admired (Latin); sea or boundary (Sanskrit); or from Meera/Mirabai, a 16th-century Hindi poet-saint
Popularity: #380 and rising (#412 → #380, 2024)

Short and universally beautiful.

Coral

Origin: English (word name, ult. Greek/Latin)
Pronunciation: KOR-ul · ˈkɔːrəl
Meaning: named for the marine coral
Popularity: #1,893 and falling (#1,889 → #1,893, 2024)

Warm, rarely used, and increasingly appealing.

Pearl

Origin: English
Pronunciation: PURL · ˈpɜːrl
Meaning: from the gemstone pearl; also an English form of the Yiddish name Perle
Popularity: #802 and falling (#800 → #802, 2024)

A classic with depth.

Isla

Origin: Scottish (place name)
Pronunciation: EYE-lah · ˈaɪlə
Meaning: from the Scottish place name Islay/River Isla; the place name’s own root is unknown
Popularity: #35 and falling (#33 → #35, 2024)

Isadora

Origin: Greek (variant of Isidora)
Pronunciation: iz-uh-DOR-uh · ɪzəˈdɔːrə
Meaning: gift of the goddess Isis
Popularity: #1,223 and rising (#1,438 → #1,223, 2024)

Dancer Isadora Duncan made it legendary.

Insula

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: IN-soo-luh · ˈɪnsjʊlə
Meaning: island
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Meridian

Origin: Latin (English word name)
Pronunciation: muh-RID-ee-un · məˈrɪdiən
Meaning: Not an island name, but a navigation term beloved in seafaring island cultures
Popularity: #9,982 and falling (#7,913 → #9,982, 2024)

Unusual, strong, “Meri” as a nickname.

Caspian

Origin: English (from Latin ‘Caspius’)
Pronunciation: KAS-pee-an · ˈkæspiən
Meaning: of/from the Caspian Sea
Popularity: #578 and rising (#664 → #578, 2024)

Lewis for the Narnian prince. Handsome, literary, and aquatic.

Fen

Origin: Unknown
Pronunciation: FEN · ˈfɛn
Meaning: Old English for “marsh” or “wetland” — the watery edges of islands
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, earthy, unusual.

Lagoon

Origin: English (via Italian/French, ultimately Latin)
Pronunciation: luh-GOON · ləˈɡuːn
Meaning: a shallow body of water separated from open sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rarely used but evocative.

Atoll

Origin: Dhivehi, via Portuguese
Meaning: ring-shaped coral reef or island enclosing a lagoon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual as a name but phonetically interesting.

Inlet

Origin: English (vocabulary word)
Pronunciation: IN-let · ˈɪnlɛt
Meaning: a narrow strip of water leading into the land
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Almost entirely unused as a name — but “Inlie” is sweet.

Cove

Origin: English
Pronunciation: KOHV · ˈkoʊv
Meaning: small sheltered bay/inlet
Popularity: #1,207 and rising (#1,319 → #1,207, 2024)

Short, rare, cozy.

Reef

Origin: English (word name)
Pronunciation: REEF · ˈriːf
Meaning: a ridge of rock or coral near the water’s surface
Popularity: #2,584 and falling (#2,141 → #2,584, 2024)

Short, strong, rarely used as a name.

Shore

Origin: English (word origin debated); also an English and Ashkenazi Jewish surname
Pronunciation: SHOR · ʃɔːr
Meaning: land at the edge of a body of water
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Simple, rare, surprisingly compelling.

Brine

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: BRYN · braɪn
Meaning: salt water
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Very rare as a given name.

Swell

Origin: English (Old English)
Pronunciation: SWEL · swɛl
Meaning: a large, rolling ocean wave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, unusual, full of movement.

Tide

Origin: Germanic (common word, not a dedicated given name)
Pronunciation: TYD · taɪd
Meaning: the rise and fall of the sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Harbor

Origin: English (surname, from the common noun ‘harbour’)
Pronunciation: HAR-ber · ˈhɑːrbər
Meaning: sheltered port or place of refuge
Popularity: #3,456 and falling (#2,627 → #3,456, 2024)

Warm and protective as a name.

Cay

Origin: Spanish (from Taino/Arawak)
Pronunciation: KEE · kiː
Meaning: A small, low island or sandbank, especially a coral-reef island; from Spanish ‘cayo,’ itself from an Indigenous Caribbean word.
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short and rare — used in the Bahamas and Florida Keys context.

Gale

Origin: English (word for a strong windstorm)
Pronunciation: GAYL · ˈgeɪl
Meaning: a strong windstorm
Popularity: #6,562 and falling (#6,026 → #6,562, 2024)

Breeze

Origin: English (word-name, documented only as a surname)
Pronunciation: BREEZ · ˈbriːz
Meaning: a light, gentle wind, used directly as a nature word-name
Popularity: #3,794 and rising (#4,125 → #3,794, 2024)

Light, rare, immediately evocative.

Azure

Origin: Old French/Arabic (ultimately Persian)
Pronunciation: AZH-er · ˈæʒər
Meaning: sky blue, deep blue
Popularity: #3,603 and rising (#3,721 → #3,603, 2024)

Color-name, rare, beautiful.

Indigo

Origin: Greek (via the color/dye name)
Pronunciation: IN-dih-goh · ˈɪndɪˌɡoʊ
Meaning: named after the deep-blue indigo dye/color
Popularity: #923 and rising (#961 → #923, 2024)

Color-name with a history in Caribbean textile trade — adds an unexpected cultural layer.

Aqua

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: AK-wuh · ˈækwə
Meaning: water
Popularity: #9,675 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Cyan

Origin: Greek (via Latin), modern color-word coinage
Pronunciation: SY-an · ˈsaɪ.æn
Meaning: blue-green (the color)
Popularity: #2,996 and falling (#2,849 → #2,996, 2024)

Cobalt

Origin: German
Pronunciation: KOH-bawlt · koʊbɔːlt
Meaning: vivid blue; the ore’s name comes from German Kobold (‘goblin’), blamed by miners for its toxic, worthless ore
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Strong, unexpected, a real discovery.

Zephyr

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: ZEF-er · ˈzɛfər
Meaning: the west wind
Popularity: #1,133 and falling (#1,121 → #1,133, 2024)

Literary, beautiful, and gender-neutral.

Soleil

Origin: French
Pronunciation: soh-LAY · soʊˈleɪ
Meaning: sun
Popularity: #824 and rising (#975 → #824, 2024)

Already used as a given name in French-speaking cultures.

Lux

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: LUKS · ˈlʌks
Meaning: light
Popularity: #1,223 and falling (#1,153 → #1,223, 2024)

Short, bright, rare.

Stellan

Origin: Swedish (etymology not firmly established)
Pronunciation: STEL-an · ˈstɛlən
Meaning: From the Latin *stella* (star) with a Scandinavian ending — stars are how Pacific navigators crossed the ocean
Popularity: #1,441 and rising (#1,485 → #1,441, 2024)

Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård made this name familiar.

Nova

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: NOH-vah · ˈnoʊvə
Meaning: new
Popularity: #39 and falling (#35 → #39, 2024)

Already widely used but retains a fresh, open feeling.

Alba

Origin: Latin (via Spanish/Italian/Catalan)
Pronunciation: AL-buh · ˈælbə
Meaning: dawn/sunrise, from a Latin root meaning ‘white’
Popularity: #1,171 and rising (#1,238 → #1,171, 2024)

Classical, warm, widely used in Europe.

Aurora

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: uh-ROR-uh · əˈrɔːrə
Meaning: dawn (name of the Roman goddess of the dawn)
Popularity: #16 and rising (#22 → #16, 2024)

Vesper

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: VES-per · ˈvɛspər
Meaning: evening; the evening star (the planet Venus at dusk)
Popularity: #2,789 and falling (#2,265 → #2,789, 2024)