River
Use of the English word, which came through Anglo-Norman from the Latin riparia, meaning riverbank or shore. It has been given to both boys and girls.
River in 2025
River was given to 4,540 babies in the United States in 2025 — 3,139 boys and 1,401 girls, making it the 125th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 730 babies born.
The history of River
River reached its highest point in 2022, when 5,430 babies were given the name, ranking 98th that year.
Across the 55 years of records since 1971, 59,351 babies have been named River. Half of them were born before 2019, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Alpha.
River by decade
| Decade | Babies named River | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26 | 9,470 |
| 1980s | 87 | 4,505 |
| 1990s | 2,290 | 972 |
| 2000s | 5,843 | 712 |
| 2010s | 22,061 | 170 |
| 2020s | 29,044 | 98 |
Where River is heading
River has risen 84% over the past decade, from 2,467 babies in 2015 to 4,540 in 2025.
Names like River
Names that rose and fell at the same time as River.