An elephant seal pup born in Deception Pass State Park earlier this year has a name.

The youngster was dubbed “Emerson” by the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network volunteers who have been watching over him since his birth on Jan. 31.

The name breaks tradition from the other members of Emerson’s extended family, a small herd that frequents the North Whidbey area. Emerson’s grandmother, Ellie, and all of her pups have names that begin with “El.”

Howard Garrett, one of the founders of the Orca Network, said now that Emerson’s arrival has marked a third generation in the family, stranding network volunteers decided to start differentiating names to better keep track of lineage as the seal family grows. Emerson and any other future pups his mother, Elsie Mae, may have, will all have names that start with “Em.”

Emerson was the first pup born to Elsie Mae. According to an Orca Network Facebook post, Elsie Mae was last sighted with Emerson Feb. 25. Orca Network programs assistant Tiffany Waldner said once his mother left, little Emerson began to practice swimming. His first attempts were less than graceful.

“He was kind of a sloppy swimmer at first,” she said. “It was kind of like watching a kid doggy paddle — a lot of splashing, and not a lot of coordination.”

Now approaching 7 weeks old, Emerson is molting his black coat to reveal a gray coat underneath. He has been staying on the beach for now, Waldner said, but will likely get back to swimming practice once he finishes molting.

Photo by Marlene Bocast Seven-week-old seal pup Emerson practices swimming.