Move over Mick Jagger. There’s a new star in town.

“Jagger” the whale is one of 19 North Atlantic right whales that have new names, as New England Aquarium scientists unveiled a slate of named whales to help researchers identify the critically endangered animals out in the ocean.

Every right whale in the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog has a number assigned to them, and many of these whales have also been given names that help scientists more easily recognize the whales.

Even for a small population of just 356 individuals, remembering numbers for each whale can be tough so names make it easier. This year, 19 right whales were assigned names.

“Whale naming is a fun change of pace for those of us studying a species in peril,” said Amy Warren, an assistant research scientist in the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium. “It allows us to be creative in looking at a whale’s unique appearance and experiences and often results in deeper connections with the whales for both the researchers and the public.”

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The naming process involves submissions from various research organizations and a ranked choice voting system.

This year’s group includes “Jagger,” a 3-year-old male that’s named for the large callosity markings (patches of raised tissue) on his lips, resembling the lips of rockstar Mick Jagger. Another male right whale, “Kermit,” has a callosity shaped like Kermit the Frog.

Other new names this year include 22-year-old female “Marilyn Monroe,” which has a scar on the front of her head that resembles the film star’s iconic beauty mark. There’s also “Waldo,” identified by a pattern on his head resembling the signature glasses of the “Where’s Waldo” character.

“Naming whales reminds us that each individual whale is unique, with their own identity, and plays an important role in their community and in our lives,” said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director and senior biologist for Whale and Dolphin Conservation North America.

The annual North Atlantic right whale calving season is underway, with researchers conducting aerial and boat-based surveys to identify new whales born into the population. The critically endangered species remains highly vulnerable to vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and climate change.

“Kermit” is an 11-year-old male that has markings shaped like Kermit the Frog. (New England Aquarium photo)
“Marilyn Monroe” is a 22-year-old female that has a scar on the front of her head that resembles the film star’s iconic beauty mark. (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission photo)