i was under the impression here in NC that only salt water boats should be named. but i guess it doesn't really matter. can't say that i have seen any boats in my area with names. maybe some of the larger boats on some of the larger lakes in around the charlotte, nc area are named.
Many of the years that I fished with my dad, it was from the shoreline because we didn't have a boat. When we saw bass boats, my dad always said that it would be nice to have one of them. My dad died in 87 and his nickname was "Bunzo" So, when I got my PT175, I had my brother at the sign shop make a label for the back of the baot in gold reflective saying "Bunzo would like it..." I guess this could be considered a name. I know that my dad's friends got a kick out of it.