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Baby names

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Original poster

River And Rio

40 replies

Raei · 17/10/2020 11:21

Both names are unisex and I love them for both a boy or girl. What are your thoughts and which do you prefer?

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Thistlegirl4 · 18/10/2020 19:04

River for a boy or girl. Rio for a boy as I only know males with the name.

itsovernowthen · 18/10/2020 18:38

Both lovely names, both unisex.

I only know a girl Rio of about 4 years old; suits her perfectly.

Escourtie · 18/10/2020 18:27

to me they are both Male names

MimiDaisy11 · 18/10/2020 17:52

I guess because the only Rio I know of is Ferdinand that I think of it as a boy's name. It's also a masculine noun in Spanish so that might be it as well. Likewise the only River I've heard of is River Phoenix.

I think River is a nice word but I agree with others who said it does sound a bit hippy, which isn't necessarily bad if that's what you're going for.

I think it can also depend on how they flow with the surname.

DoTheMaccaroni · 18/10/2020 13:21

I have only ever met females named Rio! Live both for either sex though 💜

daisypond · 18/10/2020 07:45

Rio is a boy’s name, as in Rio Ferdinand. River I’d assume was male, as in River Phoenix, but I suppose could be a girl, as in River Song.

HeronLanyon · 18/10/2020 05:59

Both boys names to my ear. Neither my taste at all but if I were only able to use these names it would be river. Rio just sounds off/naff/celebrity obsessed a bit more. To my ear only though !! Congrats op.

Original poster
Raei · 18/10/2020 05:28

Thanks everyone! Will probably post again later on with other names because I'm so indecisive. 😅

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 18/10/2020 00:29

I see both as boys' names.

Itawapuddytat · 18/10/2020 00:27

Even though I remember the Duran Duran song, to me Rio is more like a boy's name, and River definitely a girl's name. Makes me think of River Song ( from "Dr Who") and River Tam ( from "Firefly"/"Serenity") both strong female characters. I almost called my daughter River (as a second or possible third name... ) I know only one Rio and he is a boy.

Whatsyourflava · 17/10/2020 20:02

Of the two I much prefer River (for either boy or girl but if I heard name I would think it was a boy but would be nice on a girl too)

joystir59 · 17/10/2020 19:33

Really like them both. Either ok for either sex imo

TheDaydreamBelievers · 17/10/2020 19:28

River for a boy or girl

Kanaloa · 17/10/2020 17:01

I personally would think River & Rio were boys because I think of River Phoenix and all the Rios I’ve known were boys. Both are fine, nice names. I slightly prefer Rio.

TicTacTwo · 17/10/2020 15:53

With Rio I think Rio Ferdinand before the song so I'd assume boy

River makes me think River Phoenix so boy

MrsGrindah · 17/10/2020 15:50

Does it matter? You clearly want a different from usual name so how can they really be either a boys or girls name?

StellaGib · 17/10/2020 15:44

I like River for a boy or girl.

Rio sounds a bit trashy to me to be honest. River is quite hippy.

MikeUniformMike · 17/10/2020 15:42

I'm not keen on either, as celebrity-inspired, but would think of them as dboys' names - Mr Phoenix and Mr Ferdinand

GlitchStitch · 17/10/2020 15:08

They are both boy's names to me- Rio Ferdinand and River Phoenix. Both are nice, I prefer River though.

MrsMoastyToasty · 17/10/2020 15:07

I'm reminded of the Duran Duran song Rio. The lyrics refer to Rio as being female but in Spanish the word Rio is masculine.

micc · 17/10/2020 15:04

I prefer River, but Rio is nice. I know a Rhiannon that goes by Rio.

2020hasbeenbloodyawful · 17/10/2020 15:03

I know a woman who has a little boy called Rio and he's gorgeous.

River makes me think of River Phoenix and he was fab. His brother has just named their little boy after him.

They're both lovely names and quite 'out there' without being too out there.

Oneandabean · 17/10/2020 15:01

Rio is definitely a girls name to me, although the only one I knew is now late 30s.
River can be unisex but I sway more towards boy tbh.

Mylittlepony374 · 17/10/2020 13:50

Rio= boy. River = Unisex. I love them both. Unfortunately my husband didn't ....

Jocasta2018 · 17/10/2020 13:49

To me Rio will always be a girl's name & River a boy's name!
(That gives you some idea of my age....)

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