River is a unisex name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what River means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named River across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular River has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
River is a unisex name of English origin meaning “river, flowing water”. From the English nature word.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 59,351 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 6,898 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 533 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 62 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 139 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 266 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named River per year, United States (1971 to 2025). United States peaked in 2022 (5,430/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2022 (838/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2025 (76/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2020 (20/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2021 (17/yr).
River has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 2022, when it ranked #98 nationally (given to 6,365 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 2020s.
Ryver · Reverie · Rever · Reaver · Rafer · Riviera · Revere · Rivyr
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