River
River is a given name of English origin taken from river, the English word for a naturally flowing watercourse.
Meaning & Origin of River
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
River is a given name of English origin taken from river, the English word for a naturally flowing watercourse.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of River
As a girl name
River first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1988, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 1,927 Rivers were born — ranking #150 that year. As of 2026, River ranks #208 for girls with 1,488 births, gradually rising (+7%). In total, more than 21K Rivers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
River first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1971, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 3,503 Rivers were born — ranking #110 that year. As of 2026, River ranks #104 for boys with 3,248 births, rising sharply (+27% over the past five years). In total, more than 43K Rivers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named River
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- River Alexander (born 1999), American actor
- River Allen (footballer) (born 1995), English footballer
- River Butcher (born Rhea Harriett Butcher; born 1982), American comedian
- River Cracraft (born 1994), American football player
- River Huang (born 1989), Taiwanese actor
- River Phoenix (1970–1993), American actor and musician
- River Radamus (born 1998), American alpine skier
- River Wilson-Bent (born 1994), British middleweight boxer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like River
Phonetically similar names — useful when River is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about River
What does the name River mean?
How popular is River in 2026?
When was River most popular?
In which U.S. states is River most popular?
Is River a unisex name?
What names go well with River?
About the name River
River is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1971 and has accumulated 43K births in the dataset. River's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #104. Use the chart and map above to compare River's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2021 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.