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

The name River...

220 replies

mamah2019 · 19/09/2020 11:48

Hey!

What's people's honest opinions on the name River for a boy?!

Is it too popular/ normal these days?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
BlenheimOrange · 19/09/2020 18:23

It is trendy atm OP, see the graph since 1996 below. I think the darkgreener website may give you better intel on names than MN.

The name River...
forgetthehousework · 19/09/2020 18:20

Sorry "Goyt" (bloody autocorrect!)

forgetthehousework · 19/09/2020 18:19

@BikeRunSki

I like it, but might by more inclined to use the name of an actual river.
I guess that could depend on which river you chose ... Ouse Lune Parrett Gout

GrinGrinGrinGrin

Although there are a lot of nice ones too.

TheDaydreamBelievers · 19/09/2020 18:16

I like it. I'm early 30s and have met a River my age. He has a professional career.

Whatthebloodyell · 19/09/2020 18:16

I think it is a perfectly nice name. Unusual and a bit hippy without being too random. I don’t think for one second it would hinder somebody getting a job. There are already doctors and judges and bankers out there with unusual names. Although the top ten names don’t vary that much year on year, far more children are born who DON’T have top ten names than do. So it’s not unusual to have an unusual name!

Rossaloony · 19/09/2020 18:14

My friends daughter is called River. I love it but it does sound a bit weird with her surname, a bit like a shipping company.

SueEllenMishke · 19/09/2020 18:13

SueEllenMishke
Anyone who judges a person on their name (something they had 0 control over) has no hope in this world Haha.

I would never judge the person. But I'd judge their parents ......
That's really sad.

Why? People seem to forget they're naming a human not a dog or a doll.

My friend named her son an 'out there' name and from birth he had comments about it - mainly 'you'll be a rockstar with a name like that' .... it turns out he's the most shy, quiet boy you'll even meet and he hates people mentioning it. Luckily he has an actual name as a middle name and has said he'll use that when he's older.

justanotherneighinparadise · 19/09/2020 18:11

I know if one and it did make me very interested as to what the parents were like. I think I saw them once and they were distinctly ordinary. I guess I was expecting some bohemian crunchy earth loving type wearing tie dye.

Seasuns · 19/09/2020 18:09

Love it. It's just a nature name, really. Bit weird that people can call their daughter's flipping Fern but River is a no-no.

CountFosco · 19/09/2020 18:09

@GlacindaTheTroll

Tardis

Yes, Whovians will think of River Song and see it as a girls name. And there are an awful lot of Whovians

Now I am a proud Whovian but I am of the same generation as River Phoenix so I think of it as a male name.

As far as the 'do you want it on a CV' I have tosay I'd assume River's parents were white middle class lentil knitters rather than chavs so it actually 'passes' the CV test. The comment about CVs being anonymised is much more sensible though

IaltagDhubh · 19/09/2020 18:03

I had a massive crush on River Phoenix. I always thought he had a bloody stupid name though. Much like Keanu.

It seems to be getting quite overused round here now, mostly by the slightly hippy, middle class parents who believe that little River is running around screaming and hitting other children over the head with a stick because he’s just expressing himself.

Firebird83 · 19/09/2020 18:03

I love it for a boy, but my DH thought it was ridiculous!

micc · 19/09/2020 17:58

@SueEllenMishke

Anyone who judges a person on their name (something they had 0 control over) has no hope in this world Haha.

I would never judge the person. But I'd judge their parents ......

That's really sad.
Riv12345 · 19/09/2020 17:53

My grand daughter is called river
Absolutely love it

micc · 19/09/2020 17:53

@reesewitherfork I understand. I guess it just frustrates me that people are so negative about a name that isn't on the top 100. Like any name that isn't 'classic'. I have a very common name, and I always loved hearing a different name even as a child. Why be one of many when you can be one of a few? Why be part of a crowd? As long as it's not offensive I honestly dont see any issue. I wouldn't bat an eye lid if someone was called Olivia or River. I'd probably just say cool name too River Haha. It's not like shes thinking of naming her Lucifer or something 🤣 it's just River.

GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 19/09/2020 17:52

I think it's a beautiful name OP.

Benjispruce2 · 19/09/2020 17:51

Jamie Oliver has a son named River.

BikeRunSki · 19/09/2020 17:49

@LastGoldenDaysOfSummer

It's not a name it's a geographical feature.
So is Savannah, but that seems enduringly popular.
thiap · 19/09/2020 17:49

I like River.
But the only River I know has a brother called Felix... now that combo is a bit River Phoenix for me

VytaminSea · 19/09/2020 17:47

Rivers Cuomo was my teenage crush! I love the name River!

Yawningyawning · 19/09/2020 17:47

Just know one girl River.

yikesanotherbooboo · 19/09/2020 17:46

It's not to my taste but as a nature name , it is easy to spell and pronounce and is gender equal if those are your criteria.I agree that when this generation of children with their multitude of different names grow up having a more unusual name won't mark them out in the way it has done in the past. Wider access to further education will hopefully mean that background and class aren't judged in the same way either. So I wouldn't worry too much about high court judge stuff. It is really important , imo, when naming a child to put them centre stage and not to be carried away by 'falling in love' with names or whimsy. Having said that I think River is ok .

NorberErratics · 19/09/2020 17:45

@LastGoldenDaysOfSummer

It's not a name it's a geographical feature.
It's not exactly on a par with OxbowLake or my rugged NN.Grin
Marcipex · 19/09/2020 17:44

Fabulous

ErrolTheDragon · 19/09/2020 17:40

It wouldn't be their ability to do the job that would be judged.

So what would be being judged, and why?

My DH used to work for a company which seemed to have a 70% Dave hiring quota. Huge, blue chip... it doesn't exist now.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread