Naming a boat is an important moment in a boat owner’s life.  It’s much like naming a child, but without the restrictions.  When you name a child, unless you’re Gwyneth Paltrow, you’re kind of relegated to the established cannon of names like Michael or Emily.  But when you’re naming a boat, it becomes something far more personal.

You’ve only got one shot at it.  But what do you want to do with it?  Should it be something witty and fun, or should it be homage to a lost love for family member?  I am certain that there have been many an hour toiled over to the great torment and chagrin of a boat owner… “What do I name my boat?!??!”

In a modest effort to give you a modicum of inspiration, or to perhaps focus the efforts of the proud owners who have yet to name their boats, we’ve provided you with a list of popular boat names.  Some are recent trends of boat names, some are pop culture based, and some are historical references.

THE MOST POPULAR BOAT NAMES OF 2008 – FIELDANDSTREAM.COM

A boat from a movie based off of a Disney ride, that turned into one of the biggest blockbusters ever.

Seas the Day
Summer Daze
Second Chance
Aqua-Holic
Wind Seeker
Dream Weaver
Black Pearl
Hydrotherapy
The Salt Shaker
Sea Quest

This is TOTALLY not the same boat that Bogart and Hepburn hooked up on.

POP CULTURE REFERENCES

Black Pearl – “Pirates of the Caribean”
ORCA – “Jaws”
SS Minnow – “Gilligan’s Island”
The Olive – “Popeye”
Jenny – “Forrest Gump”
Stugots – “The Sopranos”
The Flying Wasp – “Caddyshack”
The Belafonte – “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou”
The African Queen

One man, so many boat names.

SONG BASED BOAT NAMES

Shaker of Salt
A Pirate Looks at 40
Son-of-a-son-of-a-sailor – Jimmy Buffet
5 O’Clock Somewhere – Kenny Chesney
Downeaster Alexa – Billy Joel
Edmund Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot

“DEADLIEST CATCH BOAT NAMES”

Deadliest Catch: awesome sailors, awesome boats, awesome boat names

Northwestern
Wizard
Time Bandit
Cornelia Marie
Maverick
Rollo
Farwest Leader
Fierce Allegiance
Early Dawn

"Umm, Captain? Maybe we should do something OTHER than stare at it."

BOAT NAMES IN LITERATURE

The Nautilus – “20,000 Leagues Under  the Sea”
Pequod – “Moby Dick”
Surprise – “Master and Commander”
Red October – “The Hunt for Red October”
Vingalot – “The Silmarillion”

So there you have it.  A nice list of boat names at your disposal.  Take one or make your own, it doesn’t matter.  What matters most is that the name fits the vessel and that you’ve given it with thought and with love.  The best of luck in naming your boat, wishing you fair winds and following seas.