"the great sea, vast waters"
Ocean
Pronunciation: [ OHSH-uhn ]
A vast, boundless nature name for free spirits
Meaning & Origin
"world-encircling river"
The Story of Ocean
Ocean comes from the Greek word Okeanos, referring to the great river-sea that ancient Greeks believed encircled the world. Okeanos was also a Titan deity in Greek mythology, the god of the world-ocean. The word passed into Latin as Oceanus and became the modern English ocean. As a given name, Ocean belongs to the nature-name tradition and carries connotations of depth, freedom, and limitless possibility.
Ocean has been steadily rising as a given name in the U.S. and Australia since the early 2000s. It gained notable attention when Frank Ocean chose it as his stage name in 2011. The French form Oceane is common in France.
In many Pacific Island cultures, the ocean is central to spiritual identity and navigation. For the Maori of New Zealand and Polynesian peoples, mastery of ocean navigation defines their cultural heritage. Naming a child Ocean evokes this deep relationship with the sea.
Fun Facts
- The singer Frank Ocean chose his stage name as a reference to freedom and vastness
- Okeanos, the Greek Titan of the ocean, was believed to encircle the entire earth - every sea and river was thought to flow from him
Ocean in Other Languages
Famous People Named Ocean
Frank Ocean
Musician
1987
American R&B and hip-hop artist known for Channel Orange and Blonde
Okeanos Fictional
Other
Titan deity of Greek mythology who embodied the world-encircling ocean
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #833
- Total SSA Count
- 325
- Cultural Origins
- English American Australian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Ocean is also used as a boy name, ranked #592.
View Ocean as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ocean
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About the Name Ocean
Ocean is a girl name with English, American, and Australian origins . The name means "the great sea, vast waters" in Greek Okeanos .
Is Ocean a boy or girl name? Ocean is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #833 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #592. Ocean is more commonly used as a boy name.
Ocean is currently ranked #833 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Ocean has 2 syllables and is pronounced OHSH-uhn, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Ocean include Ocie and Ocea. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.