To name a boat can be fun and serious business all wrapped up together. Some people may know instantly what they will name their boat while others may really take their time contemplating the perfect name for their new floating oasis.
Have you ever seen other boat names and thought... huh?
Well, it's a totally personal decision on what you name a boat. Some people may get it and some people may not. The point is, it's entirely up to you.
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Why Name a Boat?
There is a lot of history with naming boats that date back to ancient times and there's also history that involves naming a boat with a female name.
I won't go into specifics (I'll post an article below that discusses this in greater length) but it was thought to be bad luck if you didn't name your boat.
In the modern-day, why not name a boat? You get to go through the creative process of personalizing a boat which I think is part of the fun.
This is where I come in and help with how to name a boat. I have a few tips that will help you with the groundwork for coming up with the PERFECT boat name.
Okay, let's get started. There are many variations on how to pick a boat name. First, you could choose one, two, or three-word boat names.
I don't suggest picking more than three because the font alone on the boat would be crazy long and you want your name to stand out.
If the name of the boat is too long, the font will have to be smaller to fit all the characters on the boat. So, I suggest sticking to one to three words for your boat's name.
How to name a boat using one word?
Now if you have an idea of a boat name (and it's one word in length) but you're not quite sure if it's the perfect word, then think about adding a suffix to the ending of the word.
Suffixes are letter(s) that are added to the end of the root word. This changes the meaning of the word. For example, the nautical word "knot "could be changed to "knottiest" which completely changes the meaning.
This method also comes in a handy when you want to name a boat after a business or career (e.g., lawn business = lawnist or lawnitude)
Examples of Suffixes:
-er
-hood
-ion
-est
-ing
-ist
-tude
-ee
-ship
-fy
-ic
-ful
How to name a boat using a favorite location?
Some people have dream locations or places where they want to retire. Or it could be your favorite place on earth. Either way, you could incorporate the name of a place and add another word to make the boat name unique. For example, Bimini is a beautiful and popular place so a great name for using Bimini would be "Royal Bimini" or "Bimini Blue".
How to name a boat by combining names?
This is a great way to use loved ones' names for naming a boat. For example, if you have parents or children that you would like to represent, use a few letters of two names to come up with a unique name.
For example, Sara and Monica could become "MORA". Another way to do this is by using the first two letters of each name, the last two letters of each name, or the first two of one name and the last two of the other name (which is what I did with MORA) and viola! You have a unique name with significance.
How to name a boat using different parts of speech?
There are many variations to using different parts of speech to name a boat. Now think back to English class when you were taught nouns, verbs, and adjectives. You could use this method for developing a unique boat name.
For example-
Adjective (describing word) + Noun (person, place, thing)= "Jolly Wave"
Verb (action word) + Noun (person, place, thing)= "Running Sail"
How to name a boat using acronyms?
An acronym is when each letter represents the beginning letter of another word. It's basically an abbreviated form of a word or phrase (L.T.D. stands for love to dive)
How to name a boat using numbers?
This is another excellent way of crafting the perfect boat name. Use regular numbers or a different form of the number.
For example, if you have three kids or three businesses, then you could use triple or multi to represent that significance (e.g., "Triple Wave").
How to name a boat by combining words to make short phrases?
This is a great method for naming boats. It's basically coming up with several categories and then adding synonyms (words with the same meaning) to the list. Then combine words from different categories to generate GREAT boat names!
Use the words below to come up with your favorite boat name combinations:
Numbers
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.
Single
Double
Multi
Triple
COLORS-
blue
aqua
coral
indigo
azure
navy
royal
turquoise
NAUTICAL
knot
map
marine
compass
anchor
bow
port
helm
deck
crew
sailor
captain
skipper
north
south
east
west
QUICK
fast
swift
agile
rapid
brisk
ready
rush
dash
flow
WEATHER ELEMENTS
wind
air
gale
blow
gust
clear
sky
MOON & STARS
sunlight
sunny
sunrise
flare
daylight
shine
star
crescent
WATER-
ocean
sea
tide
marine
current
wave
stream
river
pond
swell
surf
reef
sand
MONEY-
cash
fund
wage
wealth
bill
currency
reserve
note
STATE OF BEING-
relax
calm
unwind
rest
hang loose
take it easy
lazy
break
tranquil
float
TIME-
future
season
generation
life
occasion
moment
turn
eternity
spell
tide
30 Boat Name Ideas
We used our above list to generate unique boat names for you:
blue tide, quick compass, west turn, future fund, swell reserve, tranquil reef, rapid sea, single note, swift port, coral sunrise, sailor spell, double helm, sunrise eternity, current wage, rush crew, break tide, south gale, lazy anchor, indigo bill, sunlight tide, marine star, sea eternity, triple deck, life float, season unwind, royal tranquil, generation wealth, easy tide, sunny bow, knot lazy
FAQ
Can there be more than two boats with the same name?
Yes, but you need to check with your state or country on the specific requirements. I've posted a link below to the National Vessel Registration FAQ page that will help guide you. For individual states, google "your state + vessel registration".
Can I rename a boat?
Yes, you can rename a boat. Some people view this as bad luck, but if you buy a used boat, then you will want to personalize your vessel.
Looking for a Boaters Safety Course?
If you are interested in taking a boaters safety course then we recommend BoatTests101 which provides an online boaters course so that you can be out boating before you know it.
For Florida residents, BoatTests101 also offers Florida Temporary Boat Certificate Course if you don't already have your boating license.
Conclusion for How to Name a Boat
We hope you found this step-by-step guide to be informative and helpful for you! Remember, to take your time when exploring boat names. You want your boat name to be unique and a reflection of your life. The PERFECT boat name will come to you!
~Bon Voyage!
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Read More Articles from Florida Family + Lifestyle:
Resource
National Vessel Documentation Center FAQ Page
Reference
The Yacht Market- Naming A Boat
Hello! I'm Tiffany, a creative travel writer, mother to three awesome kids, and Floridian. We like to visit beautiful Florida resorts and beaches, Florida State Parks, and explore destinations by boat. I like to write about our travel adventures and provide tips to other families traveling or relocating to the Sunshine State.