That many boat owners fuss about finding the perfect boat names is not really surprising. After all, boat names do not only identify the vessels but in most cases boat names are also the most convenient way to refer to the boat's passengers and crew. In other words, the boat name represents both the boat and the boat owner.
Legend has it that the art of giving names to boats dates back from the ancient days when Egyptian seafarers carefully sought out names for their sea vessels. It also believed that the mythical god of the sea Neptune, or Poseidon to ancient Greeks, knows every vessel that treads the seas by name. It is a commonly accepted superstition that renaming a boat could bring tragedy or bad luck to a new boat owner, unless that person performs the necessary ceremonies to erase the old name from the memory of the sea deity. Such obliteration ceremonies include getting rid of all the physical imprints of the old name in and out of the boat and the offering of expensive champagne to the sea gods.
But whether the sailor is superstitious or not, the fact remains that every boat owner wants a name for their boat that they can be proud of. In fact, some say that they have spent a longer time thinking of the perfect boat name than the names they gave to their children.
Sailors often christen their boats after their loved ones, favorite pets, or even their lifelong dreams and fantasies. Nature also provides a rich source of inspiration to boat naming, most particularly the wind and the sea. It is not uncommon to hear the endless combinations and variations of the words "sea" and "wind" in boat names. Boats have been christened Sea Wind, Sea Dancer, Windsong, etc.
For some, their boat names sprung from looking at the vast skies and heavenly bodies. Others have turned to Greek mythology, literature, or even the movies to find the right name for their boat. Some use foreign languages or ancient words to christen their boats.
The source of inspiration for boat names is as endless as the sea. Whatever and however a name is chosen, though, one thing is for sure. The boat's name is a personal choice of the boat owner. It reflects what he thinks of his boat and his aspirations for it. It also expresses his personal preferences, his values, and his dreams. Ask a sailor how he came up with the name for his boat and you may well expect to get a very personal sharing.
The BoatUS has been tracking the most popular boat names in America for almost 15 years. Since 1991, the BoatUS Graphics department, which provides boat lettering services, has compiled thousands of boat names and has regularly released the Top 10 most popular names of the year. Although the survey is done informally, it nevertheless shows a glimpse of the preferred boat names of many boat owners.
Some names have been long time favorites for many years while other names make it to the list for the first time. Here's the top ten most popular boat names of BoatUS in 2004 :
· Aquaholic
· Island Time
· Hakuna Matata
· Happy Hours
· Fish Tales
· Liberty
· Seas the Day
· Freedom
· Ohana
· Summer Wind
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Boat Names 