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?

Mercedes the car was actually named after the designers daughter. It was a name first

I absolutely love it, it's in my son's name (8 months old). I was going to use it as a first name but I also really loved another name and it was honestly just a toss up as to which we used as a first. Lovely name :)

@lucymagoo

Mercedes the car was actually named after the designers daughter. It was a name first

Yes, exactly.

Kanaloa oh yes I remember the Lost Boys line. I am still sure it came up in a drama like the ones I mentioned too.

@lucymagoo no because I know the origin of Mercedes! It means lady of mercy, as in the Virgin Mary. Bit different to Fiesta princess.

I love it! It's my son's middle name

I love it but as a middle name.

@TinaTraybake @earthyfire thank you both, we are really considering it, we can't seem to agree on much else at the moment haha xxx

Joachim Phoenix and his wife have named their new born boy River after Joachim’s brother. This may result in the name gaining popularity

@Antonin I HAVE JUSTTT seen this too! My partner text me now we are like ahhh man! But we genuinely can't agree on anything else so it just has to be that... I think? Unless something else comes our way to sway us. X

I don’t think River is likely to become the next George or Oliver. A little spike not enough to put you off surely? Jamie Oliver and Kelly Clarkson both have a River and I’m not sure it’s boosted the popularity that much. If you like the name, fuck everyone else and ignore how popular it is.

@ReeseWitherfork love your comment! I thought the same about Jamie Oliver earlier actually x

I don’t think River is likely to become the next George or Oliver. A little spike not enough to put you off surely? Jamie Oliver and Kelly Clarkson both have a River and I’m not sure it’s boosted the popularity that much. If you like the name, fuck everyone else and ignore how popular it is

Willow has gone from not even on the charts to top 20- ish in the last 10 years

Of course that’s a girls name and for some reason it’s more acceptable for a girl to have an “out there” name, but it does happen.

Btw I got pretty much exactly these comments 15 years ago when I was thinking of calling dd Willow.

But surely “name I like/want to call my child” trumps “could become popular” when choosing? “Could become popular” shouldn’t even factor into it IMO. And I’m sure if you had called you dd Willow then surely you could argue that you’re a trendsetter, and isn’t that a good thing?!

Just less than 1% of babies born last were called Oliver (top boys name). It’s about one child in just over 3 classes. I think people seem to think every third kid walking around is called Oliver.

0.3% of babies were called Willow. So a year group would need to have 12 classes to include a Willow. Not bad going.

Not a fan personally, agree with pp that it’s difficult to see working for a grown man.

I don’t think the news about Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara’s baby will necessarily precipitate lots of baby Rivers. From what I can see the overwhelming positive response to the news is in response to their honouring his brother.

It's cool and trendy. Not quite your younique, try hard word name name but maybe one of the more out there nature names. I know a few Rivers (girls and boys) mostly from middle class hipster families. The beautiful River Phoenix makes me love this name even more but I think it will only appeal to a certain type of person (eco-conscious, artistic or slightly alternative types), others will think it's pretentious or overly trendy.

@movingonup20

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

I would absolutely choose River over William! 😂 the more unusual names would stand out about all CV’s and I’d be drawn to read them first if I had loads to get through.

River Phoenix and his sad passing...
I don't really think it is a great first name for a boy. Especially one who might want to be a professional

A professional what?

@ReeseWitherfork it is a joy to read your comments. How bloody informative regarding the percentages wow thank you very much! That's amazing, it's very likely the name me and my partner will go for. We can't agree on anything else so hearing this is great thank you so much xxx

@whattodo2019 that's a reasonable point to some extent butttt couldn't you say this about any name which has a connection to a dead celebrity?
Kurt, Robin, Amy, Caroline, Mac, Chester... and so on?

I like it, I also thought first of Jamie Oliver’s son, and River Phoenix. I think of it as a unisex name. I think it’s a bit too out there for DH though.

If I was working with a male colleague named River I wouldn’t bat an eyelid, I’d probably just think he was quite cool!
Over the last few decades the diversity of names has really grown, so I don’t think children (and the adults they will become) really brand many names as ‘weird’ now.

@SueEllenMishke

It's not a name. While I wouldn't hold it against the person I'd be eye rolling at the parents. I'd feel sorry for the person being subject to their parents need to overtly state how individual and cool they are....

When naming a human being you should not just think about what sounds cool and cute on a child but think of a name that will carry them through all their life stages. 5 year old river .... cute
50 year old account .....not so cute. Just massively cringeworthy

The bra-less wonder! 😉