Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

River for a girl?

33 replies

Hope88 · 06/06/2011 18:31

I love the name River. I see as a name for a girl. What do you think? What nicknames?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
GwendolineMaryLacey · 15/06/2011 11:49

Not my cup of tea but not awful either. Haven't watched Dr Who since Tom Baker was the doctor so no idea what that's about.

madwomanintheattic · 15/06/2011 01:17

i know a rivers (female) who is about 10/11?, who i keep calling river Blush. don't watch dw though, and not really in tune with pop culture, so couldn't comment on that aspect. her sister is josie. just thought i'd add that in case you needed a sibling name. Grin i quite like it. i also know a storm (f) and a wolf (m). no-one bats an eyelid.

tigercametotea · 15/06/2011 01:04

I don't like the shortened "Ree" form of the name. But River is okay. I feel, more suitable for a girl than a boy. It just reminds me of River Phoenix though, as I don't watch Doctor Who. I probably shouldn't mention it but I had a crush on River Phoenix eons ago.

Darnsarfupnorf · 15/06/2011 00:48

love it love it love it!! was on the list for dd but i wasnt brave enough!

btw, no idea about dr who or firefly but i do think of river pheonix but none of her generation will know who he is will they??

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 15/06/2011 00:22

I think Doctor Who - but that is no bad thing.

Fimbo · 14/06/2011 20:33

I know one and never been teased as far as I am aware. Her sister also has a watery name.

squeak2392 · 14/06/2011 20:20

I like it.
I can't think of bullying potential other than nns, and tbh, I see no point in considering these sorts of nns. I never got one, and I can't think of anyone who did. If someone got a bad nn, it usually had nothing to do with their name.

Kids don't really notice if a name is unusual if they've grown up with it (my DN knows an Amethyst, and doesn't think anything of it), and you'll notice when you're older, but you won't really care (I know an Akacia and a Blayde, and I think there's also a Blaise where I am, but they've never had any bad comments on their names so far as I know (I can imagine someone's said what a ridiculous name Blayde is, but nothing's ever come of it, that I know). Akacia only gets good compliments because her full name is beautiful).

I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't use it, other than it existance as a noun. But then with names like Holly and Rose, I don't see why that should matter. The name Happy is more common than you would think in Aus.

PurpleStrawberry · 14/06/2011 09:03

I only like it on a boy.

LittleDonkin · 14/06/2011 08:59

There was a little girl called River on toddlers and tiaras last night. I kinda like it!

Karbea · 13/06/2011 20:07

It's not really a name is it.

merlincat · 13/06/2011 19:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lalabaloo · 10/06/2011 16:17

Would definitely make me think of River Song from Doctor Who, and she would probably get fed up of being asked if her parents were DW fans, otherwise I think it is a lovely name! I'm not sure the DW connection will be forgotten too soon either, but only you know if it would bother you

AlmaMartyr · 10/06/2011 12:28

I like it, it does make me think of Dr Who and Firefly but not in a bad way and sure they'll be forgotten soon enough.

Not sure about the 'shy librarian' thing, pretty outdated stereotype! I am a librarian and quite a few of my colleagues have unusual names as it happens.

BuntyPenfold · 10/06/2011 12:19

Will there be any librarians by then?

I like nature names too. I had a Rowan when it was practically unheard of. though a lot of people have copied now:)

I like Tansy for a girl. I also know a girl named Storm.

Ephiny · 09/06/2011 20:26

I like it a lot, can't see why it shouldn't suit a shy/studious person as well as a more outgoing one. No idea what the dr Who connection is as I don't watch that, but chances are it'll be forgotten in a few years!

tallulah · 08/06/2011 21:00

I'd immediately think it was a boy's name.

RustyBear · 08/06/2011 20:49

Oh, fgs, not the 'shy librarian' stereotype again. And why on earth would you think the name River would not suit a shy person anyway?

LaWeasel · 08/06/2011 20:40

It's a very popculture name.

Dr Who/Firefly/River Phoenix...

I quite like it, but if you're going to get annoyed with people saying "oh did you name her after ..." then I'd avoid it.

RitaMorgan · 08/06/2011 20:23

I know of a River. It's not to my taste but not terrible.

radancer · 08/06/2011 20:21

Great!!

Dreya · 06/06/2011 23:32

River was on my list too. I really like it. I knew someone called Riva pronounced Ree-vah) who used to tell people her name was River! I didn't think of Dr Who but of the lovely River Phoenix :(

River for your DD will be wonderful. I would love such an interesting name.Do it!

Mollydoggerson · 06/06/2011 22:56

It has the potential to be a limiting name, what if River turns out to be a shy, book-ey person and a librarian, will the name suit her? Or if she wants to be a judge, will it be a burden? It sounds nice but I wouldn't name my child River.

spiderlight · 06/06/2011 22:39

Love it.

Guildenstern · 06/06/2011 21:47

I don't know anything about Dr Who, but I do automatically think of Firefly/Serenity.

Northernlurker · 06/06/2011 21:46

i THINK IT'S A BIT NAFF TBH.

Swipe left for the next trending thread