River

“A naturally flowing watercourse” — English origin

Girl's name · #220 in the US (2025) · 2020s

River is near its high-water mark: it reached #149 in 2021 and still ranked #220 in 2025. About 20,000 girls have carried it since 1988. About 67% of babies named River in recent years have been boys.

Around the world: about 1 in 430 girls in Scotland (2025) · about 1 in 770 girls in New Zealand (2025) · about 1 in 880 girls in England & Wales (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 51 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Rivers

River Gallo — American filmmaker, actor, model, and intersex rights activist
River Medway — British drag queen
River Moon — South African electronic musician

In stories & tradition

River Song — Doctor Who
River Tam — Firefly · Serenity Role Playing Game

What Rivers become

Among 43 notable people named River:

Entertainers appear 3.75× more often than among typical names — e.g. River Gallo, American filmmaker, actor, model, and intersex rights activist.

Similar names: Freya · Ryleigh · Myla · Winter · Remi · Reese

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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