Whale names - Humpback whale underwater

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 whale's tail in the sea

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.
EsmeraldaMeans “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)
SapphireThe name of a blue gemstone.
Serena“Serene” (Latin)
SirenCreature of Greek mythology with a seducing voice.
Ula”Gem of the sea” (Celtic)
Yoka”Ocean smell” (Japanese)

Male whale names 

Whale name ideas - A humpback whale jumping

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)
MobyInspired by the famous whale Moby Dick.
NeptuneGod of the sea in Roman mythology.
OdysseusA character in Greek mythology.
OrcaThe name of the killer whale.
PoseidonGod of the sea in Greek mythology.
Rex“King” (Latin origin)
ThorThe Norse god of thunder.
TritonA 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

Beluga whale names - A beluga whale peeking out of water

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
BlancaA Spanish girl’s name that means “white”.
BlancoA male version of Blanca. Means “white”.
CaspianA boy’s name that means “white”.
Finn“Fair” (Irish)
Frost
GalateaA female name of Greek origin. Means “white as milk”.
Ice
JamesInspired by James Bay where beluga whales live all year round.
KilalurakInuit 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.

Blue whale names - A blue whale swimming
AtlasA Titan in Greek mythology.
Azul“Blue” (Spanish)
Blue
CadetA 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)
OceanusA Titan in Greek mythology. In Latin, this name means “of the ocean”.
SlateA bluish-gray shade.
TitanA race of giants in Greek mythology.
TitaniaA 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
Orca names - Orca whale swimming

Famous whale names

These are the most famous whales from movies, literature, and real life.

Delta and DawnA 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.
HumphreyThe humpback whale Humphrey attracted media attention in 1985 and 1990 by entering San Francisco Bay. Humphrey was rescued both times.
KeikoThe first captive orca that was released into the ocean. Starred in Free Willy and its sequels.
LunaAn orca in the documentary film The Whale.
Moby DickMoby 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 TomA famous orca that lived in the seas of Southeastern Australia from 1895 to 1930.
ShamuOne of the first orcas captured alive. Became an attraction in San Diego’s SeaWorld in the 1960s. 
TilikumA captive orca in the documentary Blackfish.
WillyAn 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!

2 Comments

  1. 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 🙂

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