Mermaid Names
Mermaid names carry the sound of the sea — soft, flowing, a little mysterious. Many are real names with watery meanings, like Marina (“of the sea”) or Nerissa (“sea nymph”), while others come straight from mythology: Greek Nereids, Slavic rusalki, the Irish merrow and the West African water spirit Mami Wata.
We’ve gathered 90+ mermaid names with their real meanings and origins, plus merman names, beloved mermaids from books and film, and playful names for a costume, a story or a goldfish. For even more watery inspiration, dive into names that mean ocean, names that mean water and our fairy names.
Mermaid names that mean sea or ocean
Real given names whose meaning is tied to the sea — beautiful for a baby as well as a mermaid character.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Marina | “Of the sea” | Latin |
| Nerissa | “Sea nymph” | Greek |
| Maris | “Of the sea” | Latin |
| Thalassa | “Sea”; also the primordial sea goddess | Greek |
| Pelagia | “Of the open sea” | Greek |
| Morgan | Often read as “sea-born” or “sea circle” | Welsh |
| Muirgen | “Born of the sea” | Irish |
| Oceane | “Ocean” | French |
| Moana | “Ocean, deep sea” | Polynesian (Māori, Hawaiian) |
| Kailani | “Sea and sky” | Hawaiian |
| Maren | “Of the sea” | Scandinavian, from Latin Marina |
| Meri | “Sea” | Finnish |
| Doris | Name of a Greek sea goddess, mother of the Nereids | Greek |
| Cordelia | Possibly “daughter of the sea” (from Welsh Creiddylad), disputed | Latin / Celtic |
| Mariana | Associated with Latin mare, “sea,” and Mary | Latin |
| Nerina | “Sea nymph,” from Nereus | Italian / Greek |
| Ula | “Jewel of the sea” (popular modern interpretation, uncertain) | Celtic |
| Dylana | Feminine of Dylan, “great tide” | Welsh |
Pretty mermaid names inspired by the ocean
Names drawn from pearls, shells and sea creatures — simple, sweet and easy to picture. See gemstone names for more jewel-like choices.
| Name | Inspiration | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Coral | Reef-building sea animal | Bright, warm |
| Pearl | Gem formed inside an oyster | Classic, luminous |
| Delphine | Greek delphis, “dolphin” | Elegant, playful |
| Marisol | Spanish, “sea and sun” | Sunny |
| Azura | Blue of the sky and sea | Dreamy |
| Lagoon | Sheltered coastal water | Unusual, calm |
| Seraphina | Heavenly “fiery ones” — shimmering scales | Glamorous |
| Nixie | Germanic water sprite | Mischievous |
| Shelly | Seashells | Cute |
| Aqua | Latin, “water” | Fresh |
| Oriana | Possibly from Latin aurum, “gold” | Golden-scaled |
| Sirena | Spanish/Italian, “mermaid, siren” | Obvious and lovely |
| Isla | Scottish island name; Spanish “island” | Soft |
| Nami | Japanese, “wave” | Short, gentle |
| Cascade | Falling water | Flowing |
| Opaline | Iridescent opal color | Sparkling |
Mermaids and water spirits from world mythology
Almost every coastal culture has sea-maidens in its folklore. These names come with real legends attached — see also our Greek god names and goddess names.
| Name | Who she is | Culture |
|---|---|---|
| Amphitrite | Queen of the sea, wife of Poseidon | Greek |
| Thetis | Sea nymph, mother of Achilles | Greek |
| Galatea | Nereid loved by the cyclops Polyphemus | Greek |
| Galene | Nereid of calm seas | Greek |
| Parthenope | Siren said to have washed ashore at Naples | Greek |
| Ligeia | One of the Sirens, “clear-voiced” | Greek |
| Leucosia | Siren, “white one” | Greek |
| Lorelei | Siren of the Rhine rock who lured sailors | German |
| Ondine | Undine, a water elemental who gains a soul through love | European (Paracelsus) |
| Melusine | Water spirit with a serpent or fish tail | French |
| Rusalka | Water maiden of rivers and lakes | Slavic |
| Merrow | Mermaid wearing a magical red cap | Irish |
| Mami Wata | Powerful water spirit, often part fish | West and Central African |
| Yemoja | Orisha of the ocean and motherhood | Yoruba |
| Sedna | Goddess of the sea and its animals | Inuit |
| Ningyo | Fish-like creature whose flesh grants long life | Japanese |
| Atargatis | Syrian goddess, earliest known mermaid figure | Ancient Syrian |
| Iara | River mermaid of the Amazon | Brazilian (Tupi) |
| Naia | From naiad, freshwater nymph | Greek |
| Selkie | Seal that sheds its skin to become human | Scottish / Irish |
Merman names
Strong names for mermen and sea kings, many borrowed from ocean gods. More picks on our mythology boy names page.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Triton | Son of Poseidon, messenger of the sea | Greek |
| Nereus | “Old man of the sea,” father of the Nereids | Greek |
| Proteus | Shape-shifting sea god | Greek |
| Glaucus | Fisherman turned sea god; “blue-gray” | Greek |
| Oceanus | Titan of the world-ocean | Greek |
| Neptune | Roman god of the sea | Latin |
| Llyr | Sea god, “the sea” | Welsh |
| Manannán | Sea god and ruler of the Otherworld | Irish |
| Ægir | Personification of the sea | Norse |
| Njord | God of sea, wind and seafaring | Norse |
| Kai | “Sea” in Hawaiian | Hawaiian |
| Dylan | “Great tide”; Dylan ail Don, a sea-born hero | Welsh |
| Murdoch | “Sea warrior” | Scottish Gaelic |
| Poseidon | King of the sea and earthquakes | Greek |
| Kanaloa | God of the ocean | Hawaiian |
| Pontus | Primordial god of the sea | Greek |
| Delmar | “Of the sea” | Spanish |
| Caspian | After the Caspian Sea | English |
Famous mermaids from books, film and TV
Well-known mermaids you might recognize — handy for costumes or as a starting point for your own creation.
| Name | Where she appears | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ariel | The Little Mermaid (Disney, 1989 and 2023) | Andersen’s original heroine had no name |
| Madison | Splash (1984) | Named after a New York street sign |
| Ponyo | Ponyo (Studio Ghibli, 2008) | A goldfish-girl who wants to be human |
| Syrena | Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides | Mermaid captured for her tears |
| Luca | Luca (Pixar, 2021) | Sea monster boy from the Italian Riviera |
| Attina | The Little Mermaid (Disney) | One of Ariel’s sisters |
| Aquata | The Little Mermaid (Disney) | Another of Ariel’s sisters |
| Cleo | H2O: Just Add Water (TV) | Teen who turns into a mermaid |
Cute mermaid names for kids, pets and costumes
Sweet, bubbly names for a toddler’s mermaid doll, a betta fish or a birthday party — for fish, also try our betta fish names.
| Name | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Bubbles | Classic and giggly |
| Splash | Energetic swimmer |
| Seashell | Sweet beach vibe |
| Sandy | Sunny beach day |
| Wavy | Fun, laid-back |
| Sparkle | Glittering tail |
| Minnow | Tiny and quick |
| Starfish | Beach favorite |
| Scallop | Pretty shell |
| Tidepool | Curious explorer |
| Guppy | Small and adorable |
| Finley | “Fin” built right in |
| Glimmer | Shimmering scales |
How to choose a mermaid name
- Look for sea meanings. Names built on Latin mar- or Greek thalass-/pelag- instantly feel oceanic.
- Use soft sounds. L, M, N, R and long vowels (Lorelei, Marina) flow like water.
- Borrow from myth, respectfully. Figures like Yemoja and Mami Wata are still honored today; treat them as revered spirits, not just fun names.
- Match the water. River, lake and ocean spirits differ — a rusalka or Iara suits a freshwater mermaid.
- Add a sea-themed surname. Tidewell, Pearlwater or Coralline complete a character nicely.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good mermaid name?
Marina, Nerissa, Coral, Pearl, Ondine, Lorelei and Thalassa are some of the most popular mermaid names, thanks to their watery meanings and flowing sound.
What names mean mermaid?
Sirena (Spanish and Italian for “mermaid” or “siren”), Nerissa and Nerina (“sea nymph”), and Morgan, which Breton folklore links to sea fairies called morgens.
What was the Little Mermaid’s name before Disney?
In Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairy tale the little mermaid has no name. Disney named her Ariel for its 1989 film.
What is a male mermaid called?
A merman. Famous mythological mermen include Triton, son of Poseidon, and Glaucus, a fisherman who became a sea god.
What was the first mermaid in mythology?
One of the oldest mermaid-like figures is Atargatis, a Syrian goddess from around 1000 BCE sometimes depicted with a fish tail.