River
River was the 111th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 3,139 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked 105th; the most babies were born in 2021 (3,504). Over the last ten years it has moved up 133 places. More babies were named River in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning river (word name) · English
Say it RIV-er /ˈrɪvər/
- Rank in 2025
- #111 boys, up 18 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 3,139boys
- Girls and boys
- 33% girls, 67% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20213,504 babies
- Total since 1880
- 59,351babies recorded
What does the name River mean?
River is the English word for a large natural stream, used as a first name. The word came into Middle English from Anglo-Norman rivere, which goes back to Latin ripa, 'riverbank', rather than to any word for flowing water. Wikipedia notes that River is used for both boys and girls in the US and other English-speaking countries. As a word name it carries no older personal-name history; its appeal lies in the image of nature and movement.
rivere (Anglo-Norman, “river”)rīpa (Latin, “riverbank”)
How sure is this? Well established.
See also: English names, names that mean water.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'river', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'River (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
River popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #220 | #111 | 1,401 | 3,139 |
| 2020 | #184 | #129 | 1,562 | 2,816 |
| 2010 | #975 | #434 | 262 | 634 |
| 2000 | #2,849 | #612 | 51 | 314 |
| 1990 | #8,359 | #2,205 | 10 | 33 |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is River, counting every spelling?
River is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #120 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #111 for River on its own. Together these spellings went to 3,212 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| River | 3,139 | #111 | 16,420 |
| Ryver | 73 | #2,053 | 403 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name River?
3,139 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named River (0.87 per 1,000 births). For a boy named River born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named River.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named River?
About 39,300 people born in the US named River are alive today, with a median age of 7; half are between 4 and 12. That makes River a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
River by state
How common River was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Montana (2.9×), West Virginia (2.7×), Arkansas (2.6×), Wyoming (2.4×), Vermont (2.3×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in District of Columbia, Rhode Island, New Jersey.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with River: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like River, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for River · Sibling names for River
Questions about the name River
What does River mean?
River means “river (word name)” (English origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name River?
River was the 111th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 3,139 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked 105th; the most babies were born in 2021 (3,504). Over the last ten years it has moved up 133 places. More babies were named River in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is River a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 33% girls, 67% boys given the name River in the US.
Where is River most popular?
In 2021–2025, River was most common in Montana (5.50 per 1,000 boys), followed by West Virginia and Arkansas.