Hydrobatidae also known as the storm petrel or stormy petrel is a bird family of the order Procellariiformes which includes the albatrosses, the petrels, shearwaters, storm petrels.

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".