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?

Haha thanks OP!

It’s tricky business, my son was “male infant” for a fair few days.

I'm not keen, but I don't like any of the River, Summer, Apple type names. They aren't names to me.

I just think you wouldn't call someone Stream, Season or Banana, so why would you call them River, Summer or Apple?!

Well, I like it!

I love it. Think it's a beautiful name. I also disagree with people saying it would be odd for a man/middle aged man/old man.
Imagine meeting a handsome man named River in a bar, can also imagine an old man introducing himself as River. Love it OP

There's gonna be a whole heap of non traditional names peddling their CV's 20 years from now
A load of teddies, Barnaby sid coco skyla and reign north rivers I taught a v studious and serious Titty and and a bimbo trust me you shouldn't ever judge a person by a name they had no say in

@cactusdog @spiderlight thank you so much both. I completely agree, also imagine a baby Nigel as an example, I'd be a bit WOW ok.. where as I can imagine a older older older Nigel. But I think this is because I know of/ can imagine more older Nigels than baby Nigels. So I think the people who say about an age situation with a name just can't imagine an older version because they're non existent yet/ in massive minority... if that makes sense.

I think it's a good name. My youngest son's middle name is River, after River Song.

Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara name their baby son River

I think it's well up there on the hippy spectrum of names. I'd be surprised if any River had ever seen the sharp end of an MMR vaccine.

I like it. It feels unusual and modern but also classic.

I think it's lovely, and I know a few - boys and girls.

It depends where you live and what kind of school the child will go to etc, how 'out there' or not it would seem. We live in Zone 2 London and our two DCs are some of the only ones in their classes with traditional names. No one would bat an eyelid here.

This thread reminds me of a time in the late 80s/early 90s, watching a film (rented video) with my parents. About halfway through, my mum asked when River Phoenix was going to turn up. I pointed out that River Phoenix had been on screen for more or less the whole time, he was the hot young guy who was also on numerous posters on my bedroom wall. Turns out both my parents had convinced themselves that River Phoenix was the name of an old, flamboyant female comedian.

But I digress, I actually think it's a wonderful name - and I usually prefer more traditional names. I think it suits a boy/man of any age.
We really don't live in a world where people are held back by unusual names anymore and even if this still happens in some places, I imagine this will have changed in 20 years.

I say go for it!

Wouldn’t be the style I go for but I think it is nice!

@Yourehavingagiraffe omg what a great story hahaa! It's it so strange how we remember little conversations like this, I love it. Thank you! I also agree x

Thank you everyone for all your opinions, I genuinely started this post thinking people would say 'oh don't do it I know about 5 Rivers' (I don't want something super duper popular basically).
To see the mixed response is great, especially the facts and figures too, they're super helpful in it all. I don't really see it as an 'out there' name at all, so it's interesting to see such vast opinions!

I know an adult River, I like it. It is an unusual name for adults these days but can't imagine it being odd in 10-15 years time.

I agree with your Nigel analogy OP. There’s a few inter generational names for boys: William, George, Jack, Peter, Christopher, Nicholas. But aside from that they’re pretty much all only popular for a decade or so (before they come back round again!)

I stand by my initial comment that River is “too cool” for my liking but I don’t think it’s chavvy/too popular/too unique/too babyish or whatever.

I don’t tend to think “I know so many Rivers!” more than “oh no, not another Alfie/Archie/Albie”. You know... names that are similar. The names similar to River (Fox, Bear) aren’t popular enough for me to say that. Ergo, I don’t think you’ll have what your worried you’ll have. Unless most of the people you’re friends with are hippies 😉

I like River, I just feel with a lot of surnames it just ends up sounding like a place name. Like when someone is called Forest or Marina. Not common but it illustrates what I mean.

@movingonup20

I work in recruitment and I don’t pay attention to names . It’s actually the last thing I look at.

I love the name River for either a boy or girl . It’s unusual but not unheard of and strong . Easy to write and pronounce too !

There are a couple of girls named river at our school (no boys though) along with a few bears , Fox , beaus etc we are at a private school so I really disagree with the lack of job opportunities in the future due to the multitude of unusual names currently being used ... use it if you love it 😊