Baby Name Popularity Profile

River

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for River.

✦ A large natural stream of water 🌍 English nature
National Rank (2025) #220
All-Time Peak Rank #149 Achieved 2021
Total U.S. Births 19,675 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 65.3% Boy / 34.7% Girl Leans Male
First Recorded 1988 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2020s 1,930 births in 2022
💡 The River Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning A large natural stream of water
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived directly from the English word 'river', referring to a natural flowing watercourse.
Pronunciation: RI-ver
Themes & Categories
nature
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind River

According to SSA data, River achieved its highest historical rank of #149 in 2021. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2022 with 1,930 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 47.3%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 36 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of River across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift +47.3% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 1,930 births in 2022
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 12 yrs
Registry Streak 36 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 0
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 0
1950s: 0
1960s: 0
1970s: 0
1980s: 5
1990s: 267
2000s: 1,394
2010s: 8,201
2020s: 9,808

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ri-ver
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with R, a letter used by only 4.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with River.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Idaho
Top States Idaho, Alaska, Nevada, Utah, Oregon
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Idaho #157 221 2020 48.1% Decline
Alaska Unranked 75 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #194 171 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #134 357 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #157 370 2019 20.7% Decline
Washington #157 654 2021 Stable
Oklahoma #146 491 2020 45.8% Decline
Colorado #250 420 2022 Stable
Montana #201 103 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #329 358 2022 18.5% Decline
Florida #256 985 2022 13.8% Decline
Tennessee #210 611 2021 17.4% Decline
Arkansas #76 296 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #218 728 2022 25.8% Decline
Wyoming #77 34 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #168 538 2022 Stable
North Carolina #247 679 2021 29.7% Decline
Missouri #201 526 2022 38.0% Decline
Texas #266 1,789 2021 7.8% Decline
North Dakota #245 71 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware Unranked 42 2019 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #196 298 2022 13.8% Decline
Kentucky #226 356 2021 40.0% Decline
Kansas #219 212 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #153 399 2021 +2.9% Growth
New Hampshire #134 61 2021 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #134 64 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #192 332 2021 30.3% Decline
Indiana #224 432 2021 27.3% Decline
Minnesota #218 325 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #173 654 2022 19.4% Decline
California #278 1,706 2022 7.8% Decline
Nebraska #289 125 2023 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #106 158 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 52 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #298 255 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Maine #79 74 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #234 207 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #197 292 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #209 729 2021 17.9% Decline
Iowa #223 201 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #302 499 2018 10.0% Decline
New Mexico #377 48 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #241 460 2022 +41.2% Growth
New York #289 558 2022 +78.8% Growth
Connecticut #382 79 2022 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #465 196 2020 32.0% Decline
Massachusetts #470 164 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 11 2022 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #186 19 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 13 2022 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

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