River: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced RIV-er · 2 syllables
River means “flowing water”, from English.
- Meaning
- flowing water
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- RIV-er
- US rank (2025)
- #111
- US babies a year
- about 4,933 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 2020
- Style
- Rising, Nature
How popular is River?
River was the #111 name in the US in 2025, given to 4,540 babies. It’s rising: up 216% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 2020.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #111 |
| England & Wales | #151 |
| Scotland | #139 |
| Ireland | #359 |
| Canada | #189 |
| Australia | #82 |
How old are people named River?
Half of US adults named River are older than 23; most are between 18 and 32. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Names like River
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
- The most popular gender-neutral names in the US
- Rising gender-neutral names
- Nature gender-neutral names
- English gender-neutral names
Questions about River
What does the name River mean?
River means “flowing water”. It comes from English.
How do you pronounce River?
River is pronounced RIV-er.
How popular is the name River?
River was the #111 name in the US in 2025, given to 4,540 babies. It’s rising: up 216% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 2020.
How old are people named River?
Half of US adults named River are older than 23. Most are between 18 and 32.