Whales are some of the most majestic creatures in the ocean. They come in many sizes and shapes, from the tiny harbor porpoise to the gigantic blue whale. With so much variety comes an opportunity for fun – giving each species its unique name!
If you want to personalize your favorite whale, this article will provide you with 125+ of the best whale names. From playful puns to traditional name ideas, there’s something here for everyone!
How to choose a whale name
Whale names range from creative and unique such as Aqua or Dolphin to more classic choices, such as Bubbles or Moby Dick. There are also many cultural references that you can use, such as references to Greek mythology, literature, movies, and more.
When choosing a name for your whale, consider which type of message you want to send. Be sure to select one that truly reflects its personality.
Ocean names are always a safe choice for naming a whale. They reflect the habitat of these majestic marine mammals.
Female whale names
A female whale is called a cow. The best girl whale names list is designed to inspire those looking for an original name for a female whale. Whether you’re planning to observe in the wild or adopt a whale plush toy into your family, you’ll find some ideas here.
This list includes names from different cultures and languages. They have special meanings related to sea travel, love, serenity, and other aspects of life by the ocean.
| Aqua | “Water, sea blue” (Latin) |
| Attina | “Wise” (Greek) |
| Cascade | “Waterfall” (French origin) |
| Doria | “Of the sea” (Greek) |
| Echo | “Reflected sound” (Greek). This name refers to the echolocation that toothed whales and dolphins use. |
| Esmeralda | Means “emerald” in Spanish. The ocean is green like this precious gemstone. |
| Kaia | “Rejoice the sea” (Hawaiian) |
| Lana | “Calm as still waters” (Hawaiian) |
| Marina | “Of the sea” (Latin) |
| Marine | “Of the sea” (Latin) |
| Marinelle | “Of the sea” (Latin) |
| Muriel | “Bright sea” (Irish) |
| Oceana | “Ocean” (Greek) |
| Sapphire | The name of a blue gemstone. |
| Serena | “Serene” (Latin) |
| Siren | Creature of Greek mythology with a seducing voice. |
| Ula | ”Gem of the sea” (Celtic) |
| Yoka | ”Ocean smell” (Japanese) |
Male whale names
Are you looking for the perfect name for a male whale? It’s hard to find meaningful monikers that last throughout their lifetime.
Fortunately, we’ve compiled the best boy whale names! From classic ideas such as Moby and Orca to more imaginative options like Thor and Odysseus, there is something here for every aquatic mammal.
| Cove | “Small bay” (English) |
| Douglas | “Dark water” (Scottish) |
| Dylon | “Son of the sea” (Welsh) |
| Jonah | “Dove” (Hebrew) |
| Marin | “Of the sea” (Latin) |
| Moby | Inspired by the famous whale Moby Dick. |
| Neptune | God of the sea in Roman mythology. |
| Odysseus | A character in Greek mythology. |
| Orca | The name of the killer whale. |
| Poseidon | God of the sea in Greek mythology. |
| Rex | “King” (Latin origin) |
| Thor | The Norse god of thunder. |
| Triton | A Greek god of the sea. |
Good whale names
- Avalon
- Bay
- Bayou
- Harbor
- Haven
- Ocean
- Pace
- Pure
- Shelby
- Shore
- Tide
- Wave
Cute whale names
- Bubbles
- Dips
- Hydris
- Luna
- Melody
- Misty
- Nemo
- Shelly
- Sparkle
- Splashy
- Zippy
Funny whale names
- Captain
- Cruise
- Diver
- Dolphin
- Flipper
- Jumbo
- Mini
- Pisces
- Prawn
- Sailor
- Shrimp
- Snorkel
- Soakes
- Splash
- Spray
- Sprinkles
- Squeal
- Squirt
- Tiny
- Tuna
- Weeny
Beluga whale names
The beluga whale is known for its white color. Along with the narwhal, the beluga whale is the only living member of the Monodontidae family.
The Greek word Monodontidae actually means something like “one-toothed”. Narwhals are known for having a single tusk. However, beluga whales don’t have a tusk.
Like narwhals, beluga whales are adapted to the cold Arctic waters.
For a whale, this species is small in size. Beluga whales grow up to 18 ft (5.5 meters) long and weigh up to 3,500 pounds (1,600 kilos).
Names that reflect the distinctive white color and cold environment fit the beluga whales.
| Alaska | |
| Alba | “White” (Latin) |
| Bela | “White” (Czech) |
| Belinda | “Beautiful” (Spanish). “Belinda the beluga whale” sounds good, doesn’t it? |
| Benny | |
| Blanca | A Spanish girl’s name that means “white”. |
| Blanco | A male version of Blanca. Means “white”. |
| Caspian | A boy’s name that means “white”. |
| Finn | “Fair” (Irish) |
| Frost | |
| Galatea | A female name of Greek origin. Means “white as milk”. |
| Ice | |
| James | Inspired by James Bay where beluga whales live all year round. |
| Kilalurak | Inuit name that means ”white whale”. |
| Pearl | |
| Snow |
Blue whale names
The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth. They can reach a maximum length of 98 ft (30 meters) and weigh up to 200 tons.
There’s no way you can keep a blue whale as a pet! However, you might be looking for a name for your blue whale character.
Names that mean “big” are fitting for this massive creature. You can also choose a moniker that means blue, reflecting the bluish color of this gigantic whale.
| Atlas | A Titan in Greek mythology. |
| Azul | “Blue” (Spanish) |
| Blue | |
| Cadet | A shade of gray with a tint of blue. Similar to the grayish-blue color of the blue whale. |
| Max | “Greatest” (Latin origin) |
| Maxime | “Greatest” (French) |
| Oceanus | A Titan in Greek mythology. In Latin, this name means “of the ocean”. |
| Slate | A bluish-gray shade. |
| Titan | A race of giants in Greek mythology. |
| Titania | A Greek female name that means “giant”. |
Orca whale names
Orcas or killer whales are technically classified into the dolphin family. However, dolphins are whales, so orcas are whales too! These are some of the best names for orcas.
- Ace
- Blackie
- Bullet
- Dante
- Hudson
- Keiko
- Luna
- Oreo
- Rocky
- Thor
- Thunder
- Titan
- Tyson
- Willy
Famous whale names
These are the most famous whales from movies, literature, and real life.
| Delta and Dawn | A humpback whale duo, also known as the Delta whales. The mother, Delta, and her calf, Dawn, entered San Francisco Bay in 2007. This resulted in a rescue operation. |
| Humphrey | The humpback whale Humphrey attracted media attention in 1985 and 1990 by entering San Francisco Bay. Humphrey was rescued both times. |
| Keiko | The first captive orca that was released into the ocean. Starred in Free Willy and its sequels. |
| Luna | An orca in the documentary film The Whale. |
| Moby Dick | Moby Dick must be the most famous whale in the world. He’s a sperm whale in Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick from 1851. |
| Old Tom | A famous orca that lived in the seas of Southeastern Australia from 1895 to 1930. |
| Shamu | One of the first orcas captured alive. Became an attraction in San Diego’s SeaWorld in the 1960s. |
| Tilikum | A captive orca in the documentary Blackfish. |
| Willy | An orca character in the film Free Willy and its sequels. |
I hope you liked these oceanic monikers. If so, you might also enjoy our post on the best dolphin names. And be sure to check our list of the best narwhal names!
Hey Kirsty, I just got a little whale plushy friend for Christmas. I searched up names for whales but got species names instead lol. Thanks you for this, I’ve decided to name him echo 🙂
Aww, that’s so cute! 🐳 Happy to hear this post helped you find a fitting name. I love Echo, it’s cool, cute, and very whale-like.