River
River is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Flowing body of water.
Origin and history
River is a nature-inspired English word name referring to a flowing body of water. Originally used primarily as a surname or masculine name, it has experienced a dramatic surge as a popular choice for girls in the United States since the 2010s. Its modern, unisex appeal appeals to parents looking for natural and contemporary names.
Popularity in the United States
19,675 babies in the United States have been named River since 1880. It ranks #1076 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #186.
States where it is most popular
- TX (9.7 %)
- CA (9.2 %)
- FL (5.3 %)
- OH (3.9 %)
- GA (3.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 5 |
| 1990-2000 | 267 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,394 |
| 2010-2019 | 8,201 |
| 2020-2029 | 9,808 |
Famous people named River
- River Song: Fictional character
Fun facts
- Derived from the Middle English 'rivere', which comes from Old French and ultimately Latin 'riparia', meaning riverbank or shore.
- While historically rare, River entered the top 200 U.S. female names in the 2020s as modern nature names gained widespread popularity.