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?

@SueEllenMishke

So Olivia originally came from Olive. So it's OK to call your child the name of something that is edible but not River?

So Olivia originally came from Olive. So it's OK to call your child the name of something that is edible but not River?

Well olive is a name too.... 🤷🏼‍♀️

You're being a little disingenuous. There is clearly a difference. Why stop at river? Why not go for pond, stream, puddle?

Hey, the OP asked for honest opinions. I'm really not a fan of using just any word as a name. It's a vanity project which is unfair in the child.

There are millions of names to choose from that are actually names, not nouns or products.

Or random collections of letters on a monopoly board in a bid to be yoonique.
I'm mystified as to why people imagine choosing weird names for their offspring makes them seem cool and edgy to others.
Most people just think 🥱 or 🙄

:o at vanity project.

Or a more plausible explanation is that the names mean something to the parents and/or they like the sound of it.

My DS's have two rather traditional names but we didn't choose them for that reason. DH and I just loved them.

That's really how most people name their babies.

@Thisismytimetoshine

There are millions of names to choose from that are actually names, not nouns or products. Or random collections of letters on a monopoly board in a bid to be yoonique. I'm mystified as to why people imagine choosing weird names for their offspring makes them seem cool and edgy to others. Most people just think 🥱 or 🙄

How do you know what most people think?

Who decides what constitutes an 'actual name'?
For instance, there are quite a few traditional names derived from 'virtues' - patience, faith, hope etc. My autocorrect doesn't try to capitalise those so it evidently thinks they're more 'word' than 'name'. Would you disqualify those? How about names of months where a few are commonly used (April, may, June) ... but others would seem weird?

I think it’s quite nice. There are far, far dafter names out there being used in all seriousness. At least it’s not cutesy like the ubiquitous Teddy, nor over the top like, what was it? Michigan Lyricism...

Love it. Lots of Bear and nature inspired names, sounds lovely x I know a Bear and a River brothers twins

Who decides what constitutes an 'actual name'?

Outside of someone being called it of course, I suppose when it is “popular enough”. I assume people who want to call their child ‘River’ is because it’s not a well established name.

I see lots of threads here along the lines of “Do people like this name or is it really popular now?” as if their two criteria to meet are 1. unusual and 2. generally liked.

I assume names become ‘well established’ because people hear them, like them, and use them for their children. So one would assume that well liked names will become popular and not-well liked names will not. Makes it very hard to fulfil the two criteria.

Perhaps there is an argument to suggest people would happily become trendsetters but I also see a lot of “I picked this name a few years ago and now it’s everywhere, how annoying!” So that argument is out.

Call your child whatever you want, but if you want ‘unusual’ then perhaps there needs to be an acceptance that it’ll raise eyebrows/be judged/not be universally approved of.

Call your child whatever you want, but if you want ‘unusual’ then perhaps there needs to be an acceptance that it’ll raise eyebrows/be judged/not be universally approved of.

This

@Clearthinking

Love it. Lots of Bear and nature inspired names, sounds lovely x I know a Bear and a River brothers twins

Bear is even worse than River. Those poor kids

@ReeseWitherfork fair play I think you're bang on there! Thank you for that Reese x

I think it's a lovely name it's definitely on my list

@BabyDust13 thank you! I agree, I was just initially worried it was possibly too popular or too normal but reading all of this has made me realise A LOT!
I also completely expected people to be like 'I know 5' so it's nice to see (in my opinion) that it's not THAT popular.

@ivfbeenbusy

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

Mean!

I don't knoW why people bother asking for input on here as so many people are downright nasty. I can understand a 'not for me' comment but some of the comments on here are horrible. Ignore them OP and go with what you want

I love it, very surprised people think it's "out there" 😂 I think it's quite normal. Definitely on my list for boys!

Think River is a great name for a boy or a girl. Used to go climbing with a young guy called Beech and that was over 10 years ago so no don't think River is too out there.

All those pp saying that you need to think of a names for a High Court judge - don't think Christmas Humphries name held him back at all! If you like it use it.

@lucymagoo SNAP! I see it as quite normal too, I honestly made this post to see if other people seen it as too popular and normal too, I didn't expect to get this response at all.
I really like the name, but I too see it as quite 'normal'.

@Twinklelittlestar1 thank you! I agree, I see plenty of posts and I think a million things about their chosen names, doesn't mean I go and say them. A simple 'it's a no from me' or 'no because XYZ' is fair enough though. X

@Rookie93 Very good point!

Some of these comments are beyond ridiculous. As a pp pointed out, it is now standard practice to read applications without names due to potential bias. River is not chavvy, embarrassing and God forbid anyone tries hard to name their child.
Do I love the name River? Not personally but I like it well enough.
Is it too popular? No.
Will it sound daft on an adult? Not as daft as Teddie, Archie, Alfie etc.
OP, do not let this silliness cloud your judgement. If you love River, use it.

@mamah2019 all I know is you're never going to please everyone if you like it that's all that matters

I know a few Rivers. Often with siblings called Honey or Storm.
I don't think it's particularly "out there". I do think it's a bit naff.

I quite like it.
I know one little girl called this. I'd say it's a unisex name.