Kai or River

[PC18]

We are having a boy - due December.

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

Kai isnt a name. Its a sound

River is a bit naff

Google "famous people named Kai".
There's plenty of people with that name.
Some of them even existed over a 100 years ago.

River has apparently been in the top 150 popular names in the UK since 2021.
So in the year 2071 no one is going to find a 50 year old named River unusual.

It means exactly what it says, it’s not difficult
to understand just like the Jayden/Kayden/Brayden era, Kai is now in the same league.

The Beckham kids have way worse names than River, that would actually be an improvement IMO 😂

Agree with everyone else. Neither are any good sorry OP. I actually like River because I was a huge fan of River Phoenix back in the day but I wouldn't use it for my baby. I do know one teen called River - she's a girl!

Meant to say that I actually quite like Kai too, it's actually quite a common name in Germany and other European countries, but in the UK unfortunately it's looked down on.

Ok... I actually know what it means.
But it's just childish stereotypes.

@Needmorelego , not childish stereotypes.
The names will appeal to a type of parent in terms of socio-economic background, which will probably affect the child.

Both names are a bit 'we wanted something different' but they are both too popular to fit that brief.

Kai is the #72 most registered boy's name in England and Wales, and River #117. River is unisex, and is the #139 most registered girl's name.

@Emanwenym it is stereotypes.
However I know several children/teens called Jayden and Kai and they don't fit into that "lower socio-economic" background at all.
I admit it's true that people will have stereotypes when they hear certain names - but as this thread shows those stereotypes are not the same for everyone.
I personally don't know any children called River but if I was going to go for stereotypes I associate it with middle class hipster type families who probably have other children called Bodhi and Arlo 😂😂😂.

I didn't say 'lower socio-economic' background.

I personally don't know any children called River but if I was going to go for stereotypes I associate it with middle class hipster type families who probably have other children called Bodhi and Arlo
Well there you go.

I'd class Arlo as that too, but the parents will have picked the name because of it being a bit hippyish and different, only to find that it was a top 20 name for their son's birth year.

At least 3 of the Noahs I know were named by parents who wanted an unusual name.

Kai :)

If you're still looking what about Tristan, Spencer, Sebastian, Caleb, Aiden, Leo, Nico

The Rivers at school have hippy parents. The Kai’s are all real lads. Think about your lifestyle and how your child would fit into these names.

@Emanwenym apologies to you because I see you didn't use the word "lower". My mistake. Sorry.
It's just many many on this thread have used the awful C word in reference to the names River or Kai (or Jayden).
Apologies again.

Pot, kettle …

The difference is while I will (like everyone) have stereotype ideas in my head sometimes when I hear certain names, I would never be as rude as some on this thread have been about a persons name choice for their child.
The comments that have used the "C" word about these names are disgusting.
The OP didn't ask if people liked the names - she asked which people like better.
If the names aren't to someone's taste then there's no need for them to comment at all.

Kai Havertz? Big Arsenal family maybe?
(Both names are bad call him James or something poor lad)

Sorry but that's not realistic. I'm a medical lawyer so I meet tonnes of doctors, lawyers and judges and I've never (as far as I can recall) met a River or a Kai.

I totally accept that as they're both quite common names now, in 25 years there might be plenty of professionals with those names but they're not around now.

(Similarly I imagine in 25 years I will meet far fewer Kevins!)

Would you like to be called Kai or River as an adult? If not, don't inflict it on your poor child just so you can be cool.

@FrodoBiggins If you Google "famous people named Kai" there are 100s including big important jobs like being a Judge.
River - I was a big fan of River Phoenix and was very sad when he died. I was 18 when he died which was almost 32 years ago.
It really wouldn't surprise me if there a lot of 30 year old Rivers out there - named after him.
Some of those will possibly have Big Important Jobs 😂

@needmorelego if you say so, I've never heard of a judge called Kai in the English language speaking world. And River being a name of a film star is obviously not the same as saying you'd not "bat an eyelid" if a serious professional had that name. Actors and singers have all sorts of mad names that I wouldn't inflict on a normal kid

@FrodoBiggins I never said specifically "English speaking world" but lawyers etc do move around from one country to another or have parents who did.
Would you be surprised to meet a lawyer called Francois or Astrid or Javinder or any other "foreign" name?
As for River - I meant anyone who had a baby and named him River because they were a big fan of River Phoenix when he died - those babies would be late 20s/early 30s now so isn't exactly a new fangled trendy name. That's why I wouldn't think anything odd if a lawyer/doctor/teacher or whatever had the name River.

I really think that the prevalence of unusual names is overestimated. The vast majority of the UK's most popular baby names are 'normal'/classic. And in certain circles, having an 'out-there' name might matter more...

That word went out with the ark.

I wish it would. I hate that word.