Unisex nameCurrently #112 in the USRising
River
RIV-er//ˈrɪvər//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20225 lettersStarts with R
Meaning & origin
River, flowing water
River is a nature name taken directly from the flowing waterway, symbolizing life, movement, and continuity across many cultures. Its use grew after actor River Phoenix's fame, and it has become an increasingly popular unisex choice in the 2010s and 2020s.
River's popularity over time
| Year | Births named River |
|---|---|
| 1971 | 6 |
| 1972 | 8 |
| 1974 | 5 |
| 1975 | 7 |
| 1981 | 6 |
| 1982 | 6 |
| 1986 | 5 |
| 1987 | 13 |
| 1988 | 18 |
| 1989 | 40 |
| 1990 | 43 |
| 1991 | 40 |
| 1992 | 44 |
| 1993 | 66 |
| 1994 | 153 |
| 1995 | 303 |
| 1996 | 305 |
| 1997 | 434 |
| 1998 | 488 |
| 1999 | 414 |
| 2000 | 365 |
| 2001 | 395 |
| 2002 | 396 |
| 2003 | 460 |
| 2004 | 520 |
| 2005 | 568 |
| 2006 | 686 |
| 2007 | 693 |
| 2008 | 860 |
| 2009 | 900 |
| 2010 | 896 |
| 2011 | 938 |
| 2012 | 1,134 |
| 2013 | 1,318 |
| 2014 | 1,951 |
| 2015 | 2,466 |
| 2016 | 2,983 |
| 2017 | 3,150 |
| 2018 | 3,408 |
| 2019 | 3,812 |
| 2020 | 4,375 |
| 2021 | 5,388 |
| 2022 | 5,421 |
| 2023 | 4,695 |
| 2024 | 4,572 |
River through the decades
- River peaked in 2022, when 5,421 babies were named River in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of River has risen 305% compared to the 10 years before that.
- River currently ranks #112 in the US and is on the rise.
Nicknames
Riv
Variants & spellings
Rivers
Famous people named River
- River Phoenix — actor