Ship Name Histories - Database of histories of ship names beginning with letter O.

Oboro

Obusier

Name Origin: - Howitzer.

Name Origin: howitzer, mortar.

Ocean

Name Origin: fortress defending the estuary of the Dnieper and Bug in the Black Sea.

Odin

Name Origin: (aka Wodan).  In Norse mythology the chief and father of the gods, who rules over the heavens and rides in the storm on his miraculous horse “Sleipner.”  He is the protector of warriors and seamen.  His two ravens, “Hugin” (thought” and “Munin” (memory), sit on his shoulders and whisper counsel in his ears.  He sacrificed one of his eyes for a draught from the fountain of wisdom.  Wednesday (Wodan’s day) is called after him.

Oeresund

Name Origin: The Sound, straits between the island of Zealand and Sweden.

Oite

Name Origin: Ocean.

Name Origin: Guard.

Name Origin: Volunteer.

Okinoshima

Name Origin: Perch.

Name Origin: A brother of Rurik, Chief of the Warangian Vikings.  He captured Kieff, the “Mother of Russian Cities,” and made it the capital of the large principality of that name, which he founded by force of arms.  The old chronicles and legends tell how Oleg, at the head of 2000 armed vessels, sailed against Constantinople in 907, how he nailed his shield on the chief gate of the city and forced the Emperor Leo Vi to pay him tribute.

Olfert Fischer

Name Origin: Born 1747, died 1829.  A naval officer, who reached the rank of Commodore in 1800.  During the battle of Copenhagen against the British squadron, under lord Nelson on April 2^nd 1801; he flew his broad pennant as Commander in Chief of the Danish fleet in the blockship Dannebrog.  When she took fire he moved to the blockship Holstein, and later to the Trekoner battery, from where he continued to exercise his command until a truce was declared.  During the battle he was wounded.  He became Rear-Admiral in 1809 and a Vice-Admiral in 1825.

Name Origin: Name given to the 59^th asteroid discovered by Chacornac on September 13^th 1860.  It was first known as “Elpis.”

Olry

Name Origin: - Jean Baptiste Leon Olry, born 1832, died 1891.  Entering the Navy, he spent the greater part of his career in the Far East.  During the China War in 1860 he commanded the gunboat Confucius employed in the rivers.  In 1879 he was governor of New Caledonia, when a violent insurrection broke out amongst the natives.

Name Origin: the river Oltu, flowing through Romania

Omega

Name Origin: - The last letter of the Greek alphabet.

Onyx

Name Origin: - Onyx

Opale

Name Origin: - Opal

Name Origin: a fortified position near Levna, taken by the Romanian troops on the day Plevna fell, November 28^th 1877.

Name Origin: A region frequently mentioned in the Old Testamant, from which the ships of Solomen, fitted out in the harbours of Edom, brought gold and other precious freight.  Where Ophir was situated has never been definitely settled; different authorities have put all India, Arabia, Central Africa, Armenia, Peru, forward.

Opossum

Orage

Name Origin: - Thunderstorm.

Name Origin: A town on the Aka, a capital of the government of that name.  It was founded in 1564 as a frontier fortress against the Tartars.

Name Origin: Orpheus, in Greek mythology a son of Calliope, the fair voiced Muse of Epic Poetry.  His wonderful song and play charmed and drew the wild beasts, trees, and rocks towards him.  When his wife Eurydice died and sank into the land of shades, Orpheus followed her and so touched the heart of Persephone (Proserpine), queen of the nether world, by his sweet music that she permitted his wife to return to earth with him, provided he refrained from looking back at her on the way.  This he could not resist doing and so lost her for ever.  The Menads, a band of frenzied women, tore the singer to pieces on Mount Hemos.

Oriflamme

Name Origin: - “Golden flame.”  The banner of St Denis, carried in battle before the kings of France.  The term nowadays is sometimes used as meaning “standard” generally.

Orion

Name Origin: In Homer’s Odyssey a giant and mighty hunter beloved by Eos (the Dawn).  He was slain by Artemis (Diana), and after his death was placed among the stars as the constellation known by his name.

Name Origin: Orion.  In homer’s Odyssey a giant and mighty hunter beloved by Eos (the Dawn).  He was slain by Artemis (Diana) and placed among the stars as the constellation known by his name.

Name Origin: Inhabitant of East Siberia.

Name Origin: Bear.  In this instance, the constellation of the Great Bear.

Orwell

Name Origin: Daring, bold.

Osborne

Name Origin: Sturgeon.

Osprey

Osprey

Ostrich

Name Origin: south wind.

Name Origin: Don Fermin Otalora, a Sub-Lieutenant in the Navy, who lost his life by the blowing up of his vessel, No. 2 sloop of the Calamianes division, during the action with the insurgents in the Philippines on May 3^rd 1851.

Name Origin: Fur seal, sea bear.

Otarie

Name Origin: - Fur seal, sea bear.

Otori

Otowa

Otter

Otter

Oursin

Name Origin: - Sea urchin.

Ouse