The most popular boat names in France
Whether you have just purchased a new or used boat, or have been its owner for several months or years, you may be interested in boat names. This may be the case, for example, if you are looking for a first boat name or if you wish to change the name of a vessel that already has one.
In this article, Bateau-immatriculation reminds you of the regulations, presents the most popular boat names, and finally, guides you in choosing your boat name.
A boat name from a legal perspective
Let's start with a quick reminder of the regulations. Above a certain length and/or engine power, every motorboat or sailboat flying the French flag must have a name. This applies to all pleasure craft.
The obligation to give a name to a vessel also depends on the owner's cruising plans: if they wish to sail outside French territorial waters, in foreign waters, they are required to give their boat a name.
The obligation to name a vessel serves one main purpose: the rapid and easy identification of the boat, if needed. Rescue services, port authorities, other pleasure boaters or nearby mariners, the administration... there are many people who may need you to identify it!
Finally, the boat name is mentioned in the boat's documents. It is different from the vessel's registration number, and complements it.
The top 10 vessel names in France in 2024
As you have understood: to be compliant, you will probably need to choose a boat name to associate with your registration. But how do you choose this name?
To give you some ideas, here is the top 10 of the most popular boat names in 2024 in France:
| Ranking | Boat name | Number of French boats bearing this name |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Carpe Diem | 325 |
| 2. | Albatros | 233 |
| 3. | Sirius | 230 |
| 4. | Moana | 226 |
| 5. | Eole | 225 |
| 6. | Ulysse | 221 |
| 7. | Idefix | 214 |
| 8. | Orion | 213 |
| 9. | Neptune | 204 |
| 10. | Nemo | 201 |
The top 10 vessel names in France in 2024
From Carpe Diem – the most popular boat name, to Nemo – 10th in the ranking of the most popular boat names in France in 2024, you already have plenty of choices!
You do not want to choose a well-known boat name that is too often encountered? Then, we invite you to continue reading this article...
Other popular boat names
Contact us
Need help with your procedures? Contact our team of experts.
Beyond the 10 most popular vessel names in France, there are other major trends. When it comes to choosing a vessel name, we all have somewhat the same ideas, or the same way of going about it:
Poseidon, Eole, Ulysses and his Odyssey...
Like Neptune, 9th in the ranking of French vessel names used in 2024, boat names often refer to mythology. They celebrate, most of the time, the elements such as water and wind – essential in navigation – or the notions of travel and adventure – sought by many boaters. As with Orion – in 8th place among the most frequently used boat names, stars and constellations are also often referenced: they are renowned for being serious guides in navigation!
Mistral, Sirocco, Meltem...
Depending on the regions of navigation, wind names are also often used to name pleasure boats.
The method of selecting boat names
The name of a boat or a loved one
There are sailors who opt for a famous boat name or those who choose their boat's name in honor of their beloved. This is why, often, boats bear female names!
It is also regularly chosen to take the first syllables of the children's names, or of each member of the owner's family, and combine them to create a unique boat name.
A locality
Boaters also sometimes refer to a place they have already visited by boat, and which has particularly marked them. Sometimes, it is a dream place, which they would precisely like to have the opportunity to reach by boat...
A pun or a specific reference
Let's not forget the very numerous boat names invented from puns, or which are intended to be humorous...
What you need to remember is that there are as many different boat names as there are pleasure boaters. So, whatever your choice of boat name, what is important to us is that you like it and that it matches your personality!
A boat name never used
Choosing an original boat name, which stands out from the most popular vessel names, is good. But it is not always mandatory! The possibilities differ, once again, depending on the category of the vessel concerned.
The uniqueness of a boat name
For boats under 24 meters: no obligation
The top 10 of French boat names that we presented to you earlier is proof: there is no obligation for owners of pleasure craft under 24 meters in length to choose a unique boat name. It is not a problem if hundreds of boats bear the same name!
The administration assumes that the vessel's registration number complements it: the registration then allows to differentiate two boats with the same name.
For units over 24 meters in length: a unique boat name
For pleasure craft of a length of 24 meters or more, it works differently. Indeed, if you own such a unit, you will have to choose a boat name that has not yet been used. A Certificate of non-similarity of name will attest to compliance with the regulations, and authorize you to christen the boat with the name of your choice.
Prohibited boat names
When you have to choose a name for your pleasure craft, the possibilities are almost endless. Only a few rare exceptions impose limits, mainly to avoid eventual abuses and problems in navigation.
Among the ideas for naming your vessel, we will thus set aside, for example, names that could undermine public order. Ideas for vulgar or insulting names will also be eliminated, or names that could cause confusion during communication. Any boat name that closely resembles, in particular, a safety message, will be refused by the administration.
The questions to ask yourself to choose your boat name
When it comes to choosing your boat name, you must undoubtedly show imagination. But it can also be interesting to ask yourself certain questions.
- Is your choice of boat name easy to pronounce and spell, especially on VHF?
- Will you be able to express it clearly, including in English?
- Is it of a reasonable length, to be communicated quickly, and to fill out different forms?
- Finally, can it be easily displayed on the hull of your unit?
When making your choice, we recommend you pay attention to these questions: they can spare you many complicated situations!
The procedures to change a boat name
The time to choose for a vessel name change
Every owner who wishes to change their boat name, whether it is a sailboat or a motorboat, can do so at any time.
There is no need to decide at the time of purchasing a used boat: you can take the time to think, and then change your vessel's name a few months or a few years later. The boat name change can also take place several times.
The boat name change procedure
To change a vessel's name, the owner must request a name transfer from the administration. Beyond the changes to be made in the files of the relevant services, the procedure consists of a modification of the boat's documents, and in particular the vessel's Certificate of Registration.
Displaying your boat name
Once your name change procedures are completed, you will finally need to display the vessel's name in accordance with the regulations. Indeed, in pleasure boating, the name is part of the external identification markings of a vessel defined in Article D. 5111-5 of the Transport Code. These are mandatory according to the Order of 8/04/2009 relating to the identification markings of pleasure craft at sea, updated in December 2016.
Sailboats sailing in the maritime zone, for example, are subject to this obligation from 7 meters of hull length. The vessel's name must appear on the stern, with the two initials of the registration district.
Discover Navimmat, our cutting workshop for identification markings
Do you have a doubt about the possibility of using a particular boat name, or about the procedures to name or rename your unit?
As usual, our team is here to assist you. Contact Bateau-immatriculation.com, and do everything you can to make your name change a success!