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?

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

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

@LastGoldenDaysOfSummer

It's not a name it's a geographical feature.

So is Savannah, but that seems enduringly popular.

Jamie Oliver has a son named River.

I think it's a beautiful name OP.

@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.

My grand daughter is called river
Absolutely love it

@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.

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

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.

@GlacindaTheTroll

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

@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

Although there are a lot of nice ones too.

Sorry "Goyt" (bloody autocorrect!)

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.

I like River, both for a girl and a boy. Reminds me of Firefly.

Generally like the hippie kind of names like: Meadow, Willow, River, and Sunny. Even more names in my native language as well, which is Danish.

Go for it!

I have never met anyone called River.

I do think people will make jokes - call him Stream, Canal, Drainage- Ditch or suggest those are his siblings' names.. but maybe they won't. Names which are common nouns do carry the risk of association with less romantic similies.

@SueEllenMishke ok so let all be called Olivia and Oliver then. Assuming every child will be shy. When more common than not most children are not shy.
I get the argument that this post is here to judge the name and this whole forum is. But there is having a personal dislike or a like towards a name and judging someone and their entire family before knowing them. This is also about the name River.. which is so inoffensive. I think people are far to sensitive.

[quote micc]@SueEllenMishke ok so let all be called Olivia and Oliver then. Assuming every child will be shy. When more common than not most children are not shy.
I get the argument that this post is here to judge the name and this whole forum is. But there is having a personal dislike or a like towards a name and judging someone and their entire family before knowing them. This is also about the name River.. which is so inoffensive. I think people are far to sensitive.[/quote]
At least they're actual names!!

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.
This makes me chuckle. Whenever people think about calling / call their children “unusual” names I always think that they must be / they are compensating for being painfully dull. But that’s me a completely catty bitch.