Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on Riva?

42 replies

albus55 · 30/01/2020 15:07

Saw it recently on a TV show and can't stop thinking about it. Have seen it spelt Reeva before but never seen Riva (pronounced Reeva). I don't mind either spelling tbh. We're haven't found out the sex so have a (long) list of boys and girls names to pick from but Riva has really stood out to both of us.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
SmileCheese · 30/01/2020 15:11

Honestly its likely that everyone will pronounce it River and that you chose to use a unique spelling. If you want it pronounced Reeva then that's how I would spell it.

SophieGiroux · 30/01/2020 15:12

Bingo hall
Sorry Confused

KittenVsBox · 30/01/2020 15:13

Riva would have a short vowel sound to me.
Reeva a long vowel in the middle.
I'd say they are 2 different names.

20viona · 30/01/2020 15:13

I would never think it was river if it's spelt riva Hmm
I like it and I like both spellings.

ParsleyPot · 30/01/2020 15:14

Not nice regardless of spelling.

EssentialHummus · 30/01/2020 15:15

I'm S.African so think of Reeva Steenkamp (Pistorius' victim), but I imagine that most people will see a mis-spelling of River. Or a kind of Lada car. It's not great, sorry.

goldenorbspider · 30/01/2020 15:16

I love it but it just reminds me of reeva as previously mentioned

sunshineandshowers21 · 30/01/2020 15:21

i’d spell it reeva if that’s how you want it to be pronounced. the only riva i know is pronounced river. i do like it, but when i hear it i do straight away think of reeva steenkamp.

Original poster
albus55 · 30/01/2020 15:21

Interesting, thanks everyone.

When I first saw it I assumed it was pronounced River too so would probably use Reeva spelling. It's only on the list anyway, nothing set in stone, just wondered what people thought of it :)

OP posts:
MrsEricBana · 30/01/2020 15:29

Yes poor Reeva Steenkamp, I think it would be pretty hard to get away from that connotation tbh.

AnneKipanki · 30/01/2020 15:31

I think there were Riva biscuits too at one point . They were a bit like Blue Riband.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 30/01/2020 15:31

What about Reiva

dorapie · 30/01/2020 15:33

Worked with a Riva, pronounced Reeva, for a few years. No one ever had any trouble with her name or pronounced it River, and we were a big organisation.

I think it's a lovely name.

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 30/01/2020 15:41

I feel like I see River, which i like a lot. And my first instinct was Riva was a boys name until i saw it spelled like Reeva. I'm not a fan I dont think but i like the Reeva spelling best as it's less confusing with River to me! River is very popular in the states right now for girls and boys!

Isadora2007 · 30/01/2020 15:46

I also thought of the lady who was killed by Oscar Pistorius as well- sorry.
Levi? Similar sounding ish.

Whatsyourflava · 30/01/2020 15:55

Yeh I immediately think of Reeva that was killed and I can hear her poor parents having to keep saying her name in the news. I could never use this name

Whatsyourflava · 30/01/2020 15:55

I like River though

Ingridla · 30/01/2020 15:56

Love it

Kanga83 · 30/01/2020 15:57

I'd spell it Reeva or Rheva, I would pronounce it as River if Riva.

eomma · 30/01/2020 16:08

i like it

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 30/01/2020 16:16

Wasn't Riva a type of car a while back? It sounds like it ought to be a car....

FreakyToes · 30/01/2020 16:34

Lovely! I also like Ziva (from NCIS). Although autocorrect wants to change it to 'Zika' 🙈

sausagepastapot · 30/01/2020 16:35

Its a chocolate bar

Riva

TatianaLarina · 30/01/2020 16:39

It’s an Italian restaurant in Barnes.

I like the name Viva (pronounced Veeva) but I associate Riva with Reeva Steenkamp too much.

Emmagen · 30/01/2020 16:46

I knew a Reva, always liked it!