What's in a name?

[tcp13]

I'm in the process of buying my first narrowboat (under offer and pending survey)! It's been well loved and is in great condition, but it's due for a repaint. I figure this also presents a convenient opportunity to rename it. I've had the name "Soggy Gambit" in mind, but I guess I don't really know what makes a good boat name... Something unique? A bit cheeky? Any other norms or criteria for coming up with a name?

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Tradition is to rename it when out the water, if you think it is unlucky to be superstitious. 

The problem with cute, or trick names is that the joke can wear thin. If you still think it will sound good in five years, then go ahead

[1st ade]

Also think what you would do if asked to spell out verbally (for example renewing a licence or booking a tunnel passage). Our VHF course included a real world example of someone who decided "peripatetic philanthropy" was a great name; "I spell Papa, Echo, Romeo, India..."

[NB Saturn]

1 minute ago, 1st ade said:

Also think what you would do if asked to spell out verbally (for example renewing a licence or booking a tunnel passage). Our VHF course included a real world example of someone who decided "peripatetic philanthropy" was a great name; "I spell Papa, Echo, Romeo, India..."

 

Probablybetter go with the index number under those circumstances 😉 

CRT have abit on their website about boat names

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/boating-news-and-views/boating-blogs/whats-your-canal-boat-name

 

And Waterways Worls have had a few articles over the last year as well if you have access to their online archives.

 

As somebody who had a succession of boats called Quackers in the 80’s simply because the first one was called that when we bought it and we couldn’t agree on a name for the others, go with something you can live with for a long time. The narrowboat pirate on youtube had an episode recently where she did the ceremony to rename her new narrowboat. (Now The Jolly Roger).

[Ex Brummie]

My boat was going to be Ashted Aspiration until I costed the cost vynil letters. It became Ashted (after the flight of locks and tunnel on the BCN near where I was living). I've stopped being annoyed at people tell me it's spelt wrong, or ask me if I'm Ted and what's my wife's name.🫠

[ditchcrawler]

13 minutes ago, 1st ade said:

Also think what you would do if asked to spell out verbally (for example renewing a licence or booking a tunnel passage). Our VHF course included a real world example of someone who decided "peripatetic philanthropy" was a great name; "I spell Papa, Echo, Romeo, India..."

Been there and had to do that. 

[Ronaldo47]

Words can develop different associations over time. My first experience of inland waterways was in 1972, when a group of us hired a boat on the Thames from Bushnells of Maidenhead. All Bushnell's boats were named "Gay" something. Ours was "Gay Fantasy No. 4" . 

[Torblimey]

I thought my boat name was pretty individual, it's been the same for 22 years.

Turns out there's at least 5 other boats with the same name.

Ho hum.

[dogless]

Imagine ringing a yard for work to be done; arranging a Boat Safety exam; contacting moorings with your boat details; or just sat in a pub chatting and answering "what's your boats name?"

 

If after five years or more of doing that you still think your names 'a laugh' all is good.

 

But perhaps imagining what may be a good name is VERY different looking forward to looking back.

 

I suggest choosing a name you can live with long term, whatever that may be.

 

Good luck. 👍

 

Rog

[Arthur Marshall]

1 hour ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Tradition is to rename it when out the water, if you think it is unlucky to be superstitious. 

The problem with cute, or trick names is that the joke can wear thin. If you still think it will sound good in five years, then go ahead

I called mine after a dance tune. I was tempted by the tune that immediately followed it in the book, which was "Lady Windermere's Dump" but my signwriter rebelled.

[Victor Vectis]

Please, not another 'Kingfisher' or 'Halycon', even though the bird is gorgeous.

'Bow Locks' is just plain naff, as is 'Dunworkin' & etc.

We still laugh when recalling a boat called 'The Saucy Mrs Flobster' we saw at Chirk.

In that there London we saw 'Daisy Mutler' but the owner didn't realise the name came from Lupin Pooters squeeze in 'The Diary of a Nobody'.

As for our own boat, many people think the name is a nod to Red Dwarf. It might be, we are the third owners, but the people who had 'Wharfie' built have the pub at Red Wharf Bay on Ynys Môn, so we reckon thats where the name comes from (even though it should be 'Traeth-coch)

[MtB]

31 minutes ago, dogless said:

Imagine ringing a yard for work to be done; arranging a Boat Safety exam; contacting moorings with your boat details; or just sat in a pub chatting and answering "what's your boats name?"

 

If after five years or more of doing that you still think your names 'a laugh' all is good.

 

But perhaps imagining what may be a good name is VERY different looking forward to looking back.

 

I suggest choosing a name you can live with long term, whatever that may be.

 

Good luck. 👍

 

Rog

 

 

This.

 

A boat near me is called "Far Canal".

 

Oh how they must laugh when he calls to book a tunnel passage or docking and blacking. 

 

 

 

 

 

Factoid: 

My first band (formed in 1973) was called Far Canal! 

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, Torblimey said:

I thought my boat name was pretty individual, it's been the same for 22 years.

Turns out there's at least 5 other boats with the same name.

Ho hum.

Same here

[agg221]

Ours appears to be the only boat named Oates. Funnily enough, it was re-named (in 1942) precisely because there was another boat also called Esquimaux.

 

The other Esquimaux no longer exists, so the name is available if anyone wants it...

 

Alec

Edited September 8, 2025 by agg221

[David Mack]

5 hours ago, MtB said:

A boat near me is called "Far Canal".

 

Oh how they must laugh when he calls to book a tunnel passage or docking and blacking. 

Ditto "Firkham Hall", "Llamedos" and other near profanities.

The boat list at https://canalplan.org.uk/boats/boats.php is not completely up to date, but a search for your favourite name will give an indication how many other people thought it was their unique choice.

 

[Stroudwater1]

I’m glad we kept our boats name, we sometimes meet people who traveled in locks or met the previous owner bankside.
 

It’s been nice to hear a bit of the old boats history and where she travelled. 
 

Unless the name really grates I would be inclined to keep the name.
 

 

[robtheplod]

if we were going to change our name it would be either Jemima Jane, or my favourite - Womble!

[Hudds Lad]

We just kept ours as is, we don't mind the name and i can't find any meaning for it other than an Italian surname.

 

If you change the name, what happens with all the RCD/RCR/PCA etc. (assuming you have some) paperwork that's got the previous name on?

[Alan de Enfield]

36 minutes ago, Hudds Lad said:

If you change the name, what happens with all the RCD/RCR/PCA etc. (assuming you have some) paperwork that's got the previous name on?

 

RCR/RCD/PCA all work on the HIN not the name.

[LadyG]

15 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Tradition is to rename it when out the water, if you think it is unlucky to be superstitious. 

The problem with cute, or trick names is that the joke can wear thin. If you still think it will sound good in five years, then go ahead

I dont understand anything from the OPs suggested name. If your trying to be funny at least make it comprehensible.

If its to tell people you play Warhamner just name it Warhammer.

[Wafi]

13 hours ago, Victor Vectis said:

Please, not another 'Kingfisher' or 'Halycon', even though the bird is gorgeous.

'Bow Locks' is just plain naff, as is 'Dunworkin' & etc.

There should be a bingo card for cringeworthy boat names. Off the top of my head:

Carpe Diem
Far Canal
DILLIGAFF
Never Again 2/3/4 etc
Dun Roamin/Workin etc
Don't Panic
Phoenix
The Office

Kids' Inheritance
Living the Dream
Sunny Daze, Happy Daze etc
Go With The Flow

 

There used to be a semi-derelict river cruiser in Henley called Cirrhosis of the River, that's one of the few comedy boat names that probably stayed funny for the life of the boat.

 

My last 2-man sailing dinghy was called Pantomime Horse, on the grounds that the front legs didn't know what the back legs were doing, and vice versa. The boats were quite exciting, and a mate called his "Who Needs Viagra?". That was fine until a prizegiving announcement along the lines of "And in second place, Joe Bloggs and John Smith, Who Needs Viagra..." (names have been changed to protect the guilty).

 

[IanM]

5 minutes ago, Wafi said:

There should be a bingo card for cringeworthy boat names. Off the top of my head:

Carpe Diem
Far Canal
DILLIGAFF
Never Again 2/3/4 etc
Dun Roamin/Workin etc
Don't Panic
Phoenix
The Office

Kids' Inheritance
Living the Dream
Sunny Daze, Happy Daze etc
Go With The Flow

 

There used to be a semi-derelict river cruiser in Henley called Cirrhosis of the River, that's one of the few comedy boat names that probably stayed funny for the life of the boat.

 

My last 2-man sailing dinghy was called Pantomime Horse, on the grounds that the front legs didn't know what the back legs were doing, and vice versa. The boats were quite exciting, and a mate called his "Who Needs Viagra?". That was fine until a prizegiving announcement along the lines of "And in second place, Joe Bloggs and John Smith, Who Needs Viagra..." (names have been changed to protect the guilty).

 

 

Add to your list:

 

Narrow Escape

Llamedos

Wet Dream

 

[Llamedos]

8 hours ago, David Mack said:

Ditto "Firkham Hall", "Llamedos" and other near profanities.

 

 

How dare you suggest my name is a near profanity. It's a real place in Wales don't you know, just across the valley from Llareggub. 😉😂

PS: It's my handle on this forum, but I wouldn't be daft enough to call my boat that!

 

We were interested in a boat once called Naughty Buoy. I told the broker he'd need to knock £10k off on the basis it would need a change of name, involving a full repaint before I'd be seen dead in it!

Edited September 9, 2025 by Llamedos

[Hudds Lad]

Meander

Dreamcatcher

Anything with Knot masquerading as Not

Lazy Days/Daze

 

[ditchcrawler]

17 minutes ago, Hudds Lad said:

 

Anything with Knot masquerading as Not

 

 

Like, Not a Yacht