River
Boy name · #111 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name River? In official American birth records, River has been tracked continuously since 1971, giving it 54 years of documented American history.
River is currently the #111 boy name in the United States — 3,139 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #243, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 573 boys born in 2025 was named River.
Babies named River per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 54-year story
River first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 3,504 boys were named River — good for #110 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare River against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another River in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common River is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where River is most common
Geography matters for names, and River is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, River is most common in WV (5.2 per 1,000), HI (4.8 per 1,000), MT (4.8 per 1,000), AR (4.5 per 1,000), ME (3.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where River is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like River
Statistically, parents drawn to River tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jasper, Archer, Ryker, Ryder, and Walker.
JasperArcherRykerRyderWalkerAmirRhettSawyer
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named River | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,139 | #111 |
| 2024 | 3,160 | #112 |
| 2023 | 3,117 | #116 |
| 2022 | 3,500 | #105 |
| 2021 | 3,504 | #110 |
| 2020 | 2,816 | #129 |
| 2019 | 2,371 | #168 |
| 2018 | 2,078 | #197 |
| 2017 | 1,969 | #200 |
| 2016 | 1,852 | #212 |
| 2015 | 1,516 | #243 |
| 2014 | 1,243 | #287 |
| 2013 | 830 | #371 |
| 2012 | 722 | #403 |
| 2011 | 645 | #424 |
| 2010 | 634 | #432 |
| 2009 | 619 | #448 |
| 2008 | 611 | #454 |
| 2007 | 464 | #553 |
| 2006 | 505 | #513 |
| 2005 | 476 | #517 |
| 2004 | 420 | #549 |
| 2003 | 388 | #570 |
| 2002 | 329 | #610 |
| 2001 | 323 | #607 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name River?
In official American birth records, the name River first appeared in 1971 (over 54 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 54 years.
Is River a popular boy name?
River ranked #111 among boys in 2025 with 3,139 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #243.
When was the name River most popular?
River peaked in 2021, when 3,504 American boys received the name (ranked #110 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name River?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 573 newborn American boys was named River. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.