Hydrothermal vents in the deep ocean were first discovered along the Galapagos rift in 1977; soon thereafter, active and inactive hydrothermal vent systems were discovered all over the world. Hydrothermal vents are generally named by the scientists who discover them. This chapter considers such naming practices and accompanying descriptions as a way of mediating the ocean and, in particular, its deep-seabed features. Through two case studies it discusses how the naming and characterization of these underwater features shape perceptions of the nature of the vents as well as their relationship to people. The analysis suggests that over time, vent names and descriptions have come to contribute significantly to the incorporation of hydrothermal vents and their ecosystems and minerals into the extractivist narrative and set of related practices that form a predominant framing for human-ocean relations.