Kai or River

[PC18]

We are having a boy - due December.

I have always loved Kai but River is also so lovely!

Please don't, tacky footballer vibes. How about Trout or Cod?

Love River. Not so fond of Kai, but in a similar vein, Cian is lovely.

Rude. Unusual names are commonplace these days, in 20 years when they're applying for jobs no one will bat an eyelid.

@PC18 I'd rather an unusual or underused name than your dc be one of 10 Arlos/Olivers/Jacobs applying for the job! Personally I prefer River, but both are perfectly acceptable

I absolutely love both of these names.

There is a Kaius in my daughter's class. Beautiful little boy he is.

Kai is a popular Non-Binary name.
There 4 Kai’s in DSC’s 6th form - all as chosen name not given name.

Both are awful, really awful.

Neither.
3 Rivers under 7 near me. All girls.
Rowan is great.
Anything else on the list?

I like both but voted Kai as I have known a few girls named River in the past couple of years or so

What a horrible rude thread.
Of the two I prefer River but I think both names are nice.
They are both fairly "normal" these days and if I met a Doctor/Judge/Lawyer/whatever who introduced themselves with the name River or Kai I wouldn't bat an eyelid or think it's odd or anything.
Please don't use that C word people. It's disgusting.

I don’t like either but river is mildly less ick

They’re both terrible.

It’s German I think, rather than made up or Chavvy.

Its origins don’t make it any less chavy in the UK

Sorry, I don't like either. If I had to choose one, River.

Might aswell call the poor little bugger 'Fuckface'.

At least that would be genuinely original instead of just tacky.

I can't believe how rude people are being on this thread because they don't like the names.
They aren't that obscure or "out there".
They are both fairly ordinary names by 2025 standards.
There will always be names I don't like but I would never be as rude as people are being on this thread.
The OP didn't ask if people liked them - she asked for a vote between the two.
If you don't like those names (which is your choice) just don't say anything. It's not your baby.
@PC18 I hope you are ok after reading some of these comments. Several are absolutely disgusting.
💐

Oh chill. People come here for honest opinions that they won’t necessarily get in real life. We are just saying what a lot are thinking but wouldn’t tell OP.

Kai def has that “naughty boy” vibe now, call it chavvy or whatever, we all know what it means and the snap judgements people will make. And they do, it’s human nature.

River is ok but sounds dated to me now.

I like Rowan!

I actually love the name River, but I would never have been brave enough to give it my own child - go for it!

@Zodiacrobat "naughty boy vibe".
What does that even mean?
🙄

Both awful

Both awful. I wouldn't comment usually but you asked!

I don’t disagree, but on the other hand someone needs to advocate for this baby who will be living with their name.

But they are both fairly ordinary names by 2025 standards.
Why would being called Kai or River be any "worse" than being called James or Matthew?
They are just names.

Don’t be silly. Even OP hinted she doesn’t want a ‘boring’ (her words) name like James or Matthew. River and Matthew are clearly different.

Kai is revolting.
River is very hippyish and as others have said, might sound very odd on a middle aged person.

what about Reeve?