Purchasing a yacht is, for some, more than a simple acquisition. A yacht can signify a milestone. The right yacht is a home away from home and can be akin to an addition to your family. You may have the delightful task of choosing a name for your vessel. While yacht hull ID numbers are required to be unique, the name of your ship can be (almost) anything. So, how to choose? Here are some things to consider.
What is your personality?
Many people choose a yacht name that is fiscally related, such as Between the Spreadsheets, or College Fund or Current Sea. Some people are stirred by history or literature and pick names from Greek or Roman writings such as The Odyssey, the Argo, Poseidon or Ferry of the Underworld. (The Greeks did name their ships, usually after a female.)
If you have a penchant for humor, you may want to choose a name that reflects this side of you, such as A Loan at Last, Almost Parrot Eyes, She Got The House, Liquid Asset, or More Cowbell.
If you are dedicated to your career you may consider a moniker that conveys this, such as Knot on Call, Doctor’s Orders, My Best Roll, Snip, Tuck and Sail, Taking Stock, or The Court Ship.
Many people find their time at sea a time to relax. This can also be mirrored in your ship’s name, such as Carpe Diem, Tranquility, Serenity, Well Being or something similar. It is not unheard of to name a ship after someone you admire, a family member, character from a story or personal hero. Even today, female names tend to be more common for ships, but male named ships are not unheard of, as the new Coast Guard ship Emlen Tunnell proves.
What to do and not to do when naming your vessel
Here are four tips to keep in mind when choosing a name:
- It should be short and sweet (two or three words, typically not over 33 characters)
- It should be easily understood when spoken aloud
- It cannot indicate an emergency, such as Man Overboard. This is to avoid confusion in radio calls
- It should not be anything obscene or profane
Legend has it that it is bad luck to fail to give your boat a name. The same lore holds that you are inviting trouble if you rename a boat after it’s been christened. No matter which direction you take, be sure to pick a name you can live with, that reflects who you, the boat owner are, and that makes you feel good every time you say it.
