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Baby names

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

Original poster

Rio as a girls name?

69 replies

kijapilk · 24/01/2018 22:26

I love the name Rio but i’m wondering if people view it as a boys name only. I also like the name Ria, but my other daughter is called Lila and I would prefer if their names didn’t share the same ending. Thoughts?

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LinoleumBlownapart · 27/01/2018 10:49

I like the name River better, Rio makes me think of the city, like calling a kid London. Also it does sound like a boy. I prefer Romy, River, Romana or Romany.

Goosegrass · 27/01/2018 07:55

Love it.

Lweji · 27/01/2018 04:01

Also,
Río is Spanish.
Rio is Portuguese.

Lweji · 27/01/2018 03:59

If you're after 1980s pop song names you could have Nikita, Valerie, Billie Jean, Diana, Janie, Elvira, Eileen, Gloria...

Nikita is a male name. Think Nikita Khrushchev.

That it was in an Elton John song should be a clue. Even though they used a female for the video. Grin

Member171204 · 27/01/2018 03:50

I know a Rio who’s in her 30s now. The name works for a child and adult. Go for it!

BlahBoobidyBaya · 27/01/2018 02:27

I knew a girl in high school called Rio and another at college called Ria. They're both names. If you like them then go for it.

BlackberryandNettle · 26/01/2018 10:00

I would assume Rio was a boy. Ria is fine. Could also have a longer name - Marianne?Rhiannan?

ColourfulOrangex · 25/01/2018 20:57

I like it but I automatically think of the film with the parrot Blush

KalaLaka · 25/01/2018 19:52

Love it

furryhat · 25/01/2018 19:50

Well I think it's great!

MikeUniformMike · 25/01/2018 19:45

Jasmine is nicer than Rio.

I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita...
Have you considered Amber-Lyn?

user1464799068 · 25/01/2018 19:39

rio is a japanese girls name btw, it translates to jasmine in english.

HairBlues · 25/01/2018 19:36

Mike - RITA! How do you feel about that, OP?

HairBlues · 25/01/2018 19:35

Expat - totally agree!

Also, off topic completely but similar vein. I have friends who are militant about how their young DDs WILL NOT BE conforming to this current, perceived feminine agenda in society (princesses etc), but do any of those DDs ever have short hair or even shortish hair? No - they all without exception have longer hair, fairly impractical, always requiring lots of washing and drying etc. Hardly even a bob let alone a short hairstyle.

I don't know why it annoys me but it does.
Rant over.

MikeUniformMike · 25/01/2018 19:31

There are so many terrific names out there.
If you're after 1980s pop song names you could have Nikita, Valerie, Billie Jean, Diana, Janie, Elvira, Eileen, Gloria...

or from the 90s, how's this for inspiration:

expatinscotland · 25/01/2018 19:24

No. Why on Earth does every boy's name has to be appropriated for a girls, but you never heard of 'How about Emily for a boy?'

HairBlues · 25/01/2018 19:16

HER NAME IS RIO... Grin sorry showing my age there.

No, I wouldn't do it. Lila is lovely. Rio is totally the short straw. I would be gutted if I'd been called Rio and my sister Lila.

Why Rio? What is it you like about Rio?Try to have a think what it says to you/what you love about it and maybe there could be some great alternatives.

MikeUniformMike · 25/01/2018 18:59

Rio makes me think of Mr Ferdinand who seems a nice chap.
The name became popular as a boy's name.

Rhea makes me think of a big flightless bird.

PenguinsandPandas · 25/01/2018 18:51

Don't like Rio sorry.

Ria is fine or Rhiannon.

user1464799068 · 25/01/2018 18:46

i absolutely love it!!

JuliannaBixby · 25/01/2018 12:26

Rio is awful even for a boy.

Rhea?

daisypond · 25/01/2018 12:05

Rio sounds like a boy's name, as it's from the Spanish masculine noun for river, so odd to give it to a girl. Ria means estuary - which doesn't really have the same romantic ring to it. How about Rhea, which is a girl's name - from the Greek myths?

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 25/01/2018 07:40

Tiger?

Teapot13 · 25/01/2018 04:18

A family at our local school has a baby girl Rio.

lljkk · 25/01/2018 04:14

I know a girl Rio, 13yo. Very ordinary kid & family. Nothing tawdry.