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Baby names

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

Original poster

Kai or River

155 replies

PC18 · 24/08/2025 11:46

We are having a boy - due December.

I have always loved Kai but River is also so lovely!

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Sidebeforeself · 24/08/2025 13:28

PC18 · 24/08/2025 13:18

Boring you mean?

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Well I think Kai and River are boring. Why ask for views on your names if you are going to be rude about other suggestions?

KimTheresPeopleThatAreDying · 24/08/2025 13:21

River is marginally better. Both will date horribly which may or may not be a concern

SoUncertain · 24/08/2025 13:19

There are two Rivers in my daughter's class going into year one.

Original poster
PC18 · 24/08/2025 13:18

StepsInTime · 24/08/2025 13:15

Grin
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Hilarious 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
PC18 · 24/08/2025 13:18

DumbbellIdiot · 24/08/2025 13:16

Gary is nice.

Boring you mean?

OP posts:
Ikeameatballs · 24/08/2025 13:17

River is the better of the two but v much dependent on the surname

muggart · 24/08/2025 13:16

i like kai but it’s the maori word for food.

River sounds a little silly to me, sorry.

Rowen is good!

DumbbellIdiot · 24/08/2025 13:16

Gary is nice.

StepsInTime · 24/08/2025 13:15

Arrivist · 24/08/2025 11:50

Are you thinking of the bridge on the river kwai?

Grin
Alexandrine · 24/08/2025 13:14

Rowan is gorgeous, hope your DH comes around.

River is nice enough, but it doesn’t suit every lad imo- seems more appropriate on artistic, bohemian personalities.

Kai feels quite downmarket as pp say (Welsh Cai doesn’t feel as bad or Ancient Roman Caius (can be pronounced as Kai-us or Keys) - the C vs K seems to make a big difference imo).

hereforthecraic · 24/08/2025 13:11

Aweful

Emanwenym · 24/08/2025 12:59

@PC18 , River is not lovely. It's wet and with the surname sounds like the name of a river.
Kai is as others have pp, a bit c**v.
Cai if you are Welsh is OK.

I wouldn't name my son either of those names.

@ToKittyornottoKitty , Rowan Atkinson and Rowan Williams spring to mind.
It's unisex but mainly used as a boy's name.
Babies called Rowan in England & Wales since 1996

yonem · 24/08/2025 12:57

Both are bad. I agree Kai is déclassé. Rowan is nice.

Marcipix · 24/08/2025 12:56

I rather like River, as long as he is an outdoor nature loving person.

If he’s going to be hunched over a games console all day, then Kai.

Hiptothisjive · 24/08/2025 12:52

River is a very hippy name in NA. Kai is okay but slightly chavy.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 24/08/2025 12:51

Neither. Give your child a name thats not going to disadvantage them in life.

SpryLilacSnake · 24/08/2025 12:43

Chiseltip · 24/08/2025 11:54

Please don't.

The kid will be an adult someday, and applying for jobs . .

As someone whose job involves recruitment, I can assure you this idea that people won't get jobs because of their names is not true, at least in my experience. I have had CVs with all sorts of random names on them. If it's something really 'out there' I'd probably assume either someone who is not British or someone with slightly odd parents, neither of which are good reasons not to hire them. But I wouldn't class either Kai or River as particularly out there nowadays anyway.

Chewbecca · 24/08/2025 12:42

Rowan much better than either Kai (naughty boy) or River (try hard).

Avantiagain · 24/08/2025 12:36

If I had to pick it would be River. Kai has a certain reputation.

the5thgoldengirl · 24/08/2025 12:24

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

DiscoBob · 24/08/2025 12:23

Kai is too early noughties and does definitely sound working class. River is too trendy and will age badly in twenty years. It sounds arty and hippyish, but you couldn't imagine a production manager or Director in a fridge factory being called that.

I'd say no to both I'm afraid.

Notmyreality · 24/08/2025 12:21

Both sound chavy. River has been done to death on here.

Sunshine1858 · 24/08/2025 12:20

I don’t like either I’m afraid. Kai is associated with a certain socio economic group (Rooney called his eldest Kai) and River is only ok if you’re the Beckhams. Otherwise it’s a bit silly.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 24/08/2025 12:19

PC18 · 24/08/2025 12:09

Rowan is on my list! It’s also one of my favourite but I need to convince my DH lol

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Showing him this thread should do it..

Go for Rowan - it’s a nice name

EveningSpread · 24/08/2025 12:18

Anna467 · 24/08/2025 12:08

I used to love Kai, then it became a chav name. I haven't heard it so much lately though.

River is a name where unless you've got a really impressive sounding surname it's going to sound ridiculous. River Smith? River Jones? River Brown? Nope really not working. It's also new age hippyish which might work as a teen but really doesn't on a short, fat middle aged man.

What about Rowan?

I laughed at River Brown - child’s name or description of 2025 UK waterways?!

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