Yes, it does. From Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations, all USCG documented vessels, so as to fulfill the name and hailing port marking requirements, must have a name.
To file for vessel documentation, click here.
To change your vessel’s name or hailing port, click here.
Specifically, 67.117 Vessel name designation says:
§ 67.117 Vessel name designation.
- (a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
- (1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
- (2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
- (b) The name designated:
- (1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
- (2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
- (3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
- (c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
- (d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.