Tradition around boat names

[Ltfdrebbin]

We finally purchased a boat. We have come up with some interesting names for her. Before we go and do something wrong, I thought I would ask what tradition is there to be observed when choosing a name. Cruising through the marina, we all see a wide variety, but tradition runs so deep in sailing I thought I would get some advice from those that might know.

[Joh.Ghurt]

Don't choose a stupid name.

If you name it after a woman, chose your grandmother, your mother, your daughter or your granddaughter. Those will stay related to you for certain. Never name a ship after your wife or your girlfriend.

If the name's some kind of pun, it'll bring you Neptune's disfavour and will increase the chance of leaking heads and bad odours on the ship.

[sailingabe41ds]

Try to make it personal...maybe fun...but avoid another common funny cliche overused name. Also getting tired of the pagan names that are both pagan (duh) usually named by atheist non religious people but somehow had a Jesus moment believing in Neptune.
My first boat was Blanca Rosa...named after my wife's grandmother whom we all loved.
Coming from a communist dictatorship
my wife and I named our second boat Lady Liberty. She was originally named Tara...another pagan god so im sure we pissed off Neptune when we scrapped that name.
Just have fun and let it be a meaningful name for you and your partner.
abe

[ScottRhodes13]

Keep in mind what it may sound like in an emergency.

Mayday, Mayday, this is 'Just Messin Around' might not work as a call for help.

[Joh.Ghurt]

Some more:

• Make the name short enough so that spelling it over radio isn't too annoying.
• Don't try to be cute to make uncommon spellings on common words. People will get it wrong every time.

Bad names:

• Galionsfigurenschenkelspreizer
• Thyme is on my Siddhe

[denverd0n]

I agree with thinking about how a mayday call will go. You want it to be something that is easy to say, and easy to understand.

And please, for the love of God, don't make is something that sounds like you are trying to make up for a lack of male equipment! There are already WAAAAY too many boats with names like that.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by sailingabe41ds

my wife and I named our second boat Lady Liberty. She was originally named Tara...another pagan god so im sure we pissed off Neptune when we scrapped that name.
Just have fun and let it be a meaningful name for you and your partner.
abe

Tara is not a gods name as far as I am aware...
Tara is a ♀ female name.

Origin of Tara
Tara is an Irish-Gaelic and a Sanskrit name.

Meaning of Tara
Tara means “elevated place” (hill) in Gaelic and “star” in Sanskrit

Make it something that means something to you but, as stated simpler is better... I knew someone who named their boat 'Breakfast in Bed'...
A real bugga when the station your calling in emergency asks you to spell it phonetically..

[JimsCAL]

The two actitivities i have a passion about are sailing and skiing. The last three of my boats have had sking terms as their names: Fresh Powder, Fall Line, and now First Tracks. It is surprising how many sailors also ski.

[JoeRobertJr]

You asked what is traditional. Traditional is not always good. As you noted about walking through the marina, there is a wide variety of names, and some are really bad. I am with Joh.Ghurt on what constitutes good and bad names. I find pun names really annoying, but they are popular.

I saw a listing for a boat named "Up Yours". I wouldn't even consider dealing with a seller that would name their boat that.

A few weeks ago, there was a very elderly couple getting ready to cast off their power boat, "Carolyn's Choice", and I offered to help with lines. As they were departing, I asked who is Carolyn. He said, "She is. This was her choice. I wanted a sailboat."

[Nord Sal]

As obvious as it might seems, don't choose a name with foul or obscene language. I've seen some boats that just leave me shaking my head at the lack of dignity and class painted on some sterns. I'd go further and include names that are overly suggestive like some sexual double entendres.


I do like some of the witty names. I saw a fishing boat with the name "Enough Said" Just imagine how he terminates his broadcasts on the VHF.

[taxwizz]

I had an Ontario 28 sailboat named "BREAKING WIND" for 25 years.
She served me well and faithfully, like a good woman.

[Island Time O25]

Too many Seascapes and Extaseas to go that route. BoatUS has a list of popular names on its website and the first 50 or 100 we have probably seen a bunch at every marina. Doesn't help if you're one of a dozen similar sounding names in your sailing area hailing help or whatever.

[Stu Jackson]

Compare the names on motorboats (maybe not the big ones, though) and sailboats. I've always found the differences at least amusing to sometimes shocking.

[Cabo Jim]

Name her whatever suits your fancy, just don't name her Wet Dream

[Tayana42]

I had a friend in college who would tell every girl he dated, “I named my boat after you.” They were disappointed when they saw the boat and it was named, “After You.”

I also recommend simple and easy to spell. I made the mistake of naming my boat “B’Shert” which is Yiddish for meant to be, (when you meet your soul mate and it is meant to be, it is B’Shert). I like the name and the idea but it is difficult on the radio and even face to face in harbors.