Hydrobates is a genus of the northern storm petrel (or Northern stormy petrel) family Hydrobatidae.

The name Procellariiformes comes from Latin, combining procella (meaning "storm" or "gale") with -formes (meaning "shape" or "form"), literally "storm-shaped" or "storm-like," fitting these seabirds' reliance on wind for flight, and refers to their stormy habitats and powerful wings. 

The family name originates from the genus name Hydrobates which combines the Ancient Greek hudro- meaning "water-" with batēs meaning "walker".