Boat Names: Ideas and the Rules for Naming Your Boat
Boat name ideas by theme, from funny to family-friendly, plus the Coast Guard rules for marking a documented boat's name and hailing port and what state registration needs.
The best boat names are short, easy to say over a VHF radio, and mean something to you. There is no list of approved names: if your boat is state-registered you can name it anything you like, and if it is documented with the U.S. Coast Guard, the rules are mostly about how the name is marked, not what it says.
Below are name ideas grouped by theme, then the real rules for documented vessels, a note on the renaming tradition and a checklist for choosing a name you will still like in ten years. All ideas are original word play, so check that a name does not suit someone else's trademark before you paint it on.
Boat name ideas by theme
Funny and punny
- Knot Working
- Reel Therapy
- Bow Down
- Sea Level Salary
- Aquaholic
- Bait and Switch
- Hull Yeah
- Tide Me Over
Family friendly
- Family Tides
- Sunday Crew
- Little Wake
- Happy Hour Hull
- Sandy Toes
- Our Third Place
- Splash Zone
- Crew Cuts
Fishing boats
- Fish Whisperer
- Just One More Cast
- Tight Lines
- Drag Race
- Slack Water
- Gaff Laugh
Calm and classic
- Windward
- Halcyon
- Second Wind
- Safe Harbor
- North Star
- Low Tide
Florida and Texas flavor
- Gulf Daydream
- Mangrove Mile
- Sandbar Sunday
- Hill Country Hull
- Laguna Lazy
- Keys to Freedom
Pontoon and party boats
- Pontoon Paradise
- Float Plan
- Deck the Halls
- Lazy River Lounge
- Cooler Than Most
- Sip Happens
Dinghies, skiffs and tenders
- Little Sister
- Tender Mercies
- Side Hustle
- Pocket Wake
- Shuttle Service
- Plan B
Small boats are the best place to try a joke name. If you are naming a tender, our guide to inflatable boats and dinghies covers the boats themselves.
Ways to build your own
- Combine two family names or pet names into one word.
- Use a place that matters to you: a creek, a county, a first date, a campsite.
- Flip a common phrase to a nautical one, such as "Knot My Problem" or "Wake Up Call".
- Use a short word in another language that you can pronounce, and check what it means first.
- Name it for the feeling you want on the water: Calm, Easy, Slow Day, Anchor Time.
Common names are common for a reason, so you will meet duplicates in any marina. A pun on your own surname, home town, boat type or favorite fish is less likely to collide than a generic name.
How to pick a name that works
- Say it on the radio. Names are used on a VHF call. Short names with clear syllables are easier to understand; see our VHF marine radio guide.
- Avoid sounds like "Mayday" or distress words. A name that sounds like an emergency call causes confusion.
- Check for duplicates locally. Ask the marina or look at who is on your dock.
- Skip trademarks. Names from movies, brands or games can attract trouble if you use them on merchandise or in business.
- Sleep on it. A joke name can age badly when you have to say it every time you fuel or call a bridge.
Coast Guard rules for documented vessels
Documenting a boat with the U.S. Coast Guard is a federal alternative to state registration. If you document it, 46 CFR Part 67 says how the name must be marked:
| Item | Rule in 46 CFR 67.123 |
|---|---|
| Recreational vessels | The name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull |
| Other vessels | The name goes on the port and starboard bow and the stern, and the hailing port on the stern |
| Lettering | Clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet, or Arabic or Roman numerals, not less than four inches high |
| Material | Any durable means and materials |
The hailing port must be a U.S. place listed in the federal FIPS 55 publication and must include the state, territory or possession. The Coast Guard's documentation form says only standard letters and numbers in the name will appear on the Certificate of Documentation. The Coast Guard does not publish a simple approved-names list; for the exact rules on acceptable names and any limits, check 46 CFR Part 67 and the National Vessel Documentation Center.
State-registered boats
Most boats are registered with the state instead. State registration is built around a registration number displayed on the bow and a registration or sticker; a name is not part of that system, so a name is optional. Many owners still paint a name on the transom, and some states have their own display rules, so check your state agency. For the Florida rules on titles, registration and boater education, see the Florida boating license and registration guide, and for who may operate a boat see whether you need a license to drive a boat.
Renaming a boat and the superstition
Many sailors say it is bad luck to rename a boat. This is folklore, not law or science. The popular version of the tradition is a ceremony to "purge" the old name from the boat's records, then ask the sea to accept the new one. You do not need a ceremony to rename a boat, but you do need to update the paperwork.
- For a documented vessel, a name change goes through the Coast Guard's documentation process, and the new name must be marked on the hull.
- For a state-registered boat, ask your state agency whether a name change must be recorded. Often it does not matter, but insurance and title records may list it.
- Tell your insurer and your lender if the boat is financed.
- If you buy a boat, the bill of sale should list the name; see our guide to the boat bill of sale.
Picking a name for a business or charter boat
If your boat earns money, treat the name as a brand. Look up the name on the Federal trademark database and in your state business records before you paint it on, and ask a lawyer if the name will appear on a website, a logo or merchandise. A private boat has fewer limits, but a distinctive name still helps people find you on the radio and the dock.
Where to see names in the wild
Walk a few docks for inspiration and for duplicates. Marinalo lists marinas in Key West and across Florida, and you can read how a name looks on a real stern. If you are still deciding what kind of boat you are naming, see our guide to the types of boats.
FAQ
Does my boat have to have a name?
Not if it is state-registered; the registration number is what your state requires. A documented boat must have a name and hailing port.
Where does the name go on a documented boat?
For recreational vessels, the name and hailing port must be marked together on a clearly visible exterior part of the hull, in letters at least four inches high.
Is it bad luck to rename a boat?
That is a sailor's superstition, not a rule. Many boats have been renamed with no problem.
Can I use a name that someone else already has?
Often yes, because there is no registry of all boat names, but it is confusing on the radio, so pick something distinctive.
Can I use a trademarked name?
Using a brand name on a private boat is common, but you should avoid it if you plan to sell merchandise or run a business. Ask a lawyer when in doubt.