Blue Miracle

If you’re in the market to buy a boat, you’ll quickly learn that so many things go into finding, establishing, and maintaining a pristine vessel. For starters, you have to think about the type of recreational boat you envision yourself exploring in. Do you want a sailboat to feel like you’re one with nature? Or perhaps the idea of a speed boat sounds particularly invigorating. Of course, if you plan to take weekend- or week-long vacations, a cabin cruiser will likely be your best bet. Once you narrow down which type of boat to buy, it’s time to think about the different design elements you want present in your water rig. Where some boats come fully decked out with beautiful upholstery and a freshly painted hull, others (typically of the used variety) need a little extra TLC. While all of these decisions may require a lot of time, energy, and resources, there’s one boat decision that allows captains and cruisers to get creative without spending a dime: naming your boat.

Before hastily buying a sign or engraving of the first name you think of for your boat, take a moment to research the best boat names—including a variety of creative boat names inspired by music, movies, pop culture, and more. Or, better yet, keep reading for 50 of our favorite picks.