The name River...

[mamah2019]

Hey!

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

Is it too popular/ normal these days?

I really like it. Only ever know (of) one - Must be around 10 yrs old now

No, can you imagine their cv landing on hrs desk for a grad scheme, there's 500 applications and they only have 10 places, so say 30 interview slots, do you interview River or William, which sounds more serious to your clients? River if you must as a middle name but give them a proper name for work purposes

It just reminds me of River Phoenix. Maybe because I’ve never met a River in real life or heard of one other than him? It is nice as an unusual middle name.

@movingonup20 sorry, but I think this next generation will be a massive mix of 'unusual' names. I also (coming from someone who works in recruitment) wouldn't not interview someone based on their name. And never in one million years would I name my son something like William or Benjamin, they're just not my style of names and are somewhat boring to me. So sorry just my opinion. But thank you for your opinion too!

Well you've asked for honest opinions....

I think it's bloody awful

Might be cute when he's a toddler but not a grown man in a professional job

@GreenJellyBean @Kanaloa ohh ok this is interesting thank you both! I thought it was super popular and a bit over used?! So this is reassuring! X

Honest opinion... it’s too try hard.

@mamah2019 i agree with you about unusual names no longer being as much a standout job threatening feature now. Obviously name dependent!

I also really like the name river! Its a clear, pronouncable, easily spelt, no negative connotations name.

I love it. Haven't met any, but it's great.

but I think this next generation will be a massive mix of 'unusual' names.

If this was the case then the top ten boys and girls name wouldn't have stayed roughly the same for the last 10 years

"River" is somewhere between chavvy and try hard

i like it. i don’t know why people make so much fuss about ‘professional’ names. when this generation of kids grow up, names like jackson/arlo/river will be the norm and names like william will be in the minority. times move on, names do too.

My immediate thought was it's a girls name because of Dr Who.

It's not great, I don't think. As someone else has said, you aren't just naming a baby or a cute toddler - you're also naming a thirty something, a middle aged man, an elderly man. I think people often overlook this.

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

I love it, but it does seem really trendy, atm.

I really like it but certainly not for a boy. For a girl

Well this is great, thanks everyone! I honestly thought it was possibly too popular/ normal. I expected people to say they knew loads!?

Honestly? Awful. Really not a fan of things like River, Phoenix, Fox, Bear type names. I can understand the appeal of unusual name but ultimately your not the person who has to live with it. As someone else said go for something else as a first name and then use River as a middle name. (You can always refer to him as river, but he has a ‘different’ name as his first name if he prefers it.

I worked with someone called Storm and it always seemed daft referring to a grown man in a fairly high paid job as ‘Storm’.

Also I don’t know any Rivers but our area is overrun with things toddlers called Archie, Alfie, Freddie, Teddy type names.

Always makes me think of River Phoenix as well but I do know of one lovely little boy with the name.

As far as interviews in the future go, I though most companies now didn’t view candidates’ names during the selection process as it could result in an unconscious (or perhaps even blatant based on moving’s comment) biased or racist decision not to proceed.

It's ridiculous.

Makes me think of Rivers Cuomo.

There were 267 boys called River last year and 304 girls.

Sounds like you’re trying too hard to be cool IMO.

Love the name. I wouldn't worry about things like CVs and going for jobs as an adult. By the time they grow up there will be so many unusual and out there names. I think it's better than something blah that's so bland and been around for years. So so boring and will b forgotten in a crowd x

It was 192 last year. Take from that what you will. I think it's try hard. And honestly not a name.
You have to understand that despite what you think/believe people do judge people based on their names. Especially if that's all they know. For example I was emailing a woman called Gail. I expected her to be 50/60. She ended up being early 20s. Quite a shock.

@movingonup20 many of the big companies already anonymise CVs before deciding who to interview as it's been shown to be a fairer process with more women and ethnic minorities being selected for an interview when anonymised. It's getting increasingly common to the point it's almost standard practise already let alone in 20 years time. The mixture of names is already extremely diverse at the big financial firms. River would fit in fine now let alone in 20 years.

River is one of my favourite names. I've never met anyone with this name yet though