Most dinghies are cunning escape artists. Giving them a name won’t cure them of this annoying habit, but it will make them easier to find. And perhaps make it less likely that they are stolen. Use this escapism as an inspiration for your dinghy’s name, make a reference to your it’s size or hull material or, if you have a particularly strong outboard on the back, make a reference to its speed. Here’s a list with great Small Boat Names:
Small Boat Names List
WILFUL BILL
NEW AGE BRAT
MUSSELS
DANCER
MUNCHKIN
BANDIT
MUDFLAP
CHUG-A-LUG
SARGE IN CHARGE
HOT BETTY
PLANE FUN
REBEL
GET WET
SQUIGGLES
GUNGA DIN
SALTY DOG
DIRTY LAUNDRY
DAY TRIPPER
INSUBORDINATE
TIKI
TIN CAN
THE LITTLE FELLOW
DAMN BOAT
FUDDLE DUCK
WHAT HAPPENED?
ROBOTE
SLUG
BARGE
SWELL DANCER
SEA YA
TIN CAN
PEG LEG
BEACH BUM
DR DOOLITTLE
ESCAPIST
SPACE RECRUIT
SEE YA LATER
CRIKEY
WET SPOT
HOKEY POKEY
SKITE
FORGET ME KNOT
BOOZ FERRY
LATE FOR SMOKO
THE FLEA
STINKY FEET
SASSY
VEGEMITE
SEACRITTER
PUDDLE DUCK
PEANUT
ROCK BOTTOM
ROUGHRIDER
SINKING FEELING
MIND GAMES
TOY BOX
TIMBERTOY
EARTHLING
NIT WIT
JELLY BEAN
YABBIE
TAILWALKER
UNPLUGGED
BREAKAWAY
TROUBLE MAKER
SLUG
LITTLE TIN SOLDIER
WHY OH WHY
DOT COM
JUST LEFT
LITTLE BUGGER
SCALLYWAG
MOUSE
BUFFY
WILD DUCK
WET NUTS
SLUGGO
TANGLEFOOT
TIDE TROTTER
AQUAHOLIC
ARE WE THERE YET?
UNSINKABLE
ACTUAL SIZE
MONGREL
PEDRO
TAIL END CHARLIE
DAGWOOD
RATBAG
UPSTART
SEA SQUIRT
BUBBLE PUPPY
GANDOLPH
SMIDGEN
OZZIE BATTLER
BARNACLE BREEDER
BAD KID
ILLOGICAL
IDLEVICE
SURFRIDER
SUNBUM
GOTTA GET AWAY
GUPPY
TIRED TURTLE
TUGABOAT
PICANINNY
SQUIRTLE
TEASER
TA-KEEL-LA
SIN OR SWIM
IMPULSIVE
FOUR LETTER WORD
DINGBAT
GUZZLER
TADPOLE
SEA SAW
ON CALL
SMILEY
HOUDINI
BOUNCY BOAT
BABOO
SHAWOWLET
TOOTH FERRY
TIP-SEA
DILLY DALLY
GONE OVERBOARD
BADBOY
SNEAKY
PUFFIN
WATER RAT
BUFFY
MOUSE
GUZZLER
GIGABYTE
TANTRUM
BARNACLE
BREEDER
TUFFY
TINNY TAXI
SEA YOU LATER
SEA SQUIRT
BIGGLES
DIGIT
SLOPPY JOE
SLIPPERY WHEN WER
NO BIG TING
NAUTI BOUY
FERRYMAN
BAR TENDER
OUT OF CONTROL
HOPE IT FLOATS
TWO DOLLAR BILL
UNZIPPED
SUNSPOT
TUBTOY
TOWED-A-LOT
SEAWEED
SEASICK
TIDE ONE ON
KERMIT
GUPPY LOVE
TINKER TOY
UNIDENTIFIED FLOATING OBJECT
SLOOPY
TENDER TINNY
DUCKY
SOMEBUDDY
SWELL RIDER
TEMPER TANTRUM
TOUGH COOKIE
SWEET ESCAPE
SUNNY SIDE UP
SLACKASS
SUGAR
JUDAS
THE LINK
DAGGY
CRUMPLET
SCAT
MUPPET
SWAGGIE
TIN TACK
MOBY DUCK
DUNKER
ALIEN
COME BACK!
ALL SHOOK UP
LESS IS MORE
GROG FERRY
SMUDGE
WIMPY
TROUBLE SHOOTER
TOY YOT
SLIP AWAY
RIVER RAT
‘LIL RIPPER
DUCK SLOOP
SEA RAT
ROOKIE
MY DING-A-LING
STUBBY
SUNNY
BABE
TRIFLE
TEASER
UTILITY
MISFIT
SUNBUM
SEA TOY
SALT SHAKER
SQUIGGLE
WHAT PLUG?
EVERWET
TAGALONG
UPSTART
SPUTNIK
OUT OF CONTROL
SPOILED BRAT
SIDE KICK
DITTO
GOT WATER
SUNNY
JUST FOR THE HULL OF IT
HOKEY POKEY
GOBLIN
SEA ELF
SWEPT AWAY
ON THE ROCKS
HOCUS POCUS
SWAMPED
WETBUTT
TINYTANIC
IN THE DRINK
AMOST WORKS
WET PATCH
ESCAPIST
COCKROACH
TINLID
ONE FOR FUN
HALF PINT
LITTLE SPIRIT
ZIT
MOZZIE
NUGGET
POON
GREEN FROG
FATHEAD
SLEIGH RIDE
SLUGGO
BUDDY
GIDDYUP
ENUFFS ENUFF

Dinghies to match the Mother Vessel
Connecting your mothership to it’s tender by name is guaranteed to attract attention anywhere!
You could use a name for your mother vessel that indicated a larger size such as MAGNITUDE and use a matching name for your dinghy that indicates the opposite, such as MINITUDE.
Another option, to refer back to a previous idea, is to name the mother vessel after your wife and the tender after your child.
BEWITCHED & BEWILDERED
MAGNITUDE & MINITUDE
BIG WOMAN & LITTLE WOMAN
GADGET & GIDGET
MEGABYTE & MINIBYTE
SKIPPER & FIRST MATE
BIG ALICE & LITTLE ALICE
FAT CAT & KITTEN
BIG TOOT & LITTLE TOOT
SEA DOG & SEA PUPPY
FOOTLOOSE & FANCY FREE
NEPTUNE’S FOLLY & NEPTUNE’S DOLLY
ETERNAL & TIME AFTER TIME
MOTHER DUCK & DUCKLING
FLOTSAM & JETSAM
COOL CHANGE & SMALL CHANGE
BIG BOTE & LIL’ BOTE

Didn’t quite find what you were looking for in our small boat names list? Have a look at our other boat names ideas.