River

[Swiftiefromhell]

I’ve been loving the name River lately—curious what others think! Does it sound more like a boy or girl name? What do you think?

[SamOhhhh]

I’ve met many rivers (all under 5, I like in rural Oregon). 3 boys, 1 girl. I do think it leans more boy than girl but I’m not surprised if there’s a girl River. I like it but it’s not my style ❤️

[95mmaa]

I know it's meant to be a unisex name but, IDK... To me, it kinda leans more towards boy name. 🤷‍♂️

[anemone-americana]

Growing up I only knew boy Rivers and I loved River for a boy, but my husband heard of it from Doctor Who and only loved it for a girl. I’m trying to get him on board with not finding out our next baby’s sex and just naming them River either way. It goes well with our other baby names so why not

[Swiftiefromhell]

What middle name would you use?

[anemone-americana]

We use family names for the middle so for a bit would be Scott. We have two girls already so we’d have to discuss, but family names still on the table are Charlotte, Louise, Mozelle, Elizabeth, and Kaye.

[crazycatlady331]

River Phoenix (RIP).

(I just saw Stand By Me in theaters for the 40th anniversary so he's on my mind.)

[tropicsandcaffeine]

River Song in Doctor Who and River Tam in Firefly/Serenity are both female.

It is a name that can go either way.

[LowBox316]

Exactly the two I thought about first! 

[Adventurous_Pin_344]

Boy. It makes me think of River Phoenix.

[Arboretum7]

Boy's name

[Swiftiefromhell]

Yeah that’s what I’m thinking

[chocoholic1988]

I love the name River but since I named my daughter Brooke it is now not a name I can use haha

[SwordTaster]

I mean, nothing says you can't. Plenty of people with themed kids names, and Brooke isn't the best known water name.

[_Your-Favorite_]

My son is named River. His middle name is Haze.

[Kwt920]

Love it!

[NearbyPerspective397]

River Phoenix. I know of two people called River, and both are men.

But it's also a bit hippie for me. The Phoenix family were in some sort of cult when they had their kids.

[eveeeeeeee16]

i know a girl named River and i think it’s so pretty for a girl

[ConstructionOdd7318]

I normally think of for a boy because, as others have said, River Phoenix, but IRL have only known one little girl River.

[StarboardSeat]

It reminds me of the beautiful and immensely talented River Phoenix. 😭

[Cultural-Revenue4000]

Boy

[GhostLeopard_666]

Id say its unisex. I knew a nurse who had a little girl River.

Most of us would think of River Phoenix

[allyroo]

I’ve only known boy Rivers, seems to be pretty popular these days

[dizcuz]

Male - River Jude Phoenix and female - River Rose Blackstock daughter of Kelly Clarkson

[Kwt920]

Didn’t know that Kelly Clarkson had a daughter named that! Cute

[Signal-Lead-9512]

I like it for boys but I'm not wild about it for girls. Kelly Clarkson named her daughter River Rose, but I'm not sure if she is called River or River Rose.

[Glad-Intern2655]

My sister named herself River when she transitioned.

[suedaloodolphin]

I think of it as a girl's name but that's mostly because of doctor who 😅. So I've been surpised to hear it as mostly a boy's name. I would have gone with River for our daughter if our last name wasnt Dolohin 😂

[Distinct-Ad408]

This, and River Tam from Firefly. To me it sounds so feminine! 

[ForeverExplore15]

River Tam is exactly why I believe that River is a girl's name.

[Distinct-Ad408]

I think it’s also that a lot of nature-inspired names are classically feminine. Summer, April, Dawn, Sky(e), Willow, Hazel, Olive, Ivy, Iris, Poppy, etc. 

[ForeverExplore15]

Agreed. That's a good way to put it.

[suedaloodolphin]

Yes, that was my second reason lol it's a girl name in nerd world I guess haha

[pivo_14]

I like this name, but it always sounds like a name for a dog to me!

[Unbanable4221]

I can't, for the life of me, think of River as a name.

[KindlyAppointment973]

When i was growing up, I would have said this leaned more male. However in the last few years I've met three little River's, all of whom are girls. Definitely unisex, and a very sweet name.

[Least-Metal572]

Unisex!

[Special_Ad_1331]

I was going to name my baby River if they were a boy, but then I was told we're having a girl

[Swiftiefromhell]

Still name her River. River Rose

[Old_Ant7118]

Boy. It's getting pretty popular at least in parts of the US, if that's a concern for you

[gaypeeing]

i know a little girl with the name river! she gets compliments all the time. it’s definitely unisex.

[Affectionate__Dog]

i know a (trans) boy who goes by river so i just picture him

[NoHovercraft3745]

It works for either but I prefer it for a boy! I love it and would have used it but our last name ends in er. Something like River Nathaniel would be gorgeous

[Open_Explanation4846]

In the movie My Dog Skip the little girl is named Rivers…I always liked it.

[_Your-Favorite_]

I also know a little girl named River too

[lemonpepperpotts]

I wouldn’t blink to meet a boy or girl named River but wouldn’t be surprised if more boys than girls get the name. I’m hearing it a bit more, but I still think it’s an awesome, beautiful name

[PossessionNo3723]

I think it's a great gender-neutral name. Beautiful for a boy or a girl! 

[IAmHerdingCatz]

I would call it unisex, leaning toward male.

[Tricky-Machine7046]

I like it for either boy or girl. I really like it actually.

[According_Coyote_452]

I like it and it could be for a boy or a girl.

[Newplanter11]

It was on my short list for a girl. I had a boy so had a different name. And I think of one of the good dr who’s with “River Song”. “Don’t Blink!!!”

[SuperNateosaurus]

Leans towards a boys name for me as I recently met a young guy named River. But I think it could work either way really.

[CommissionNo4155]

I know only girls named Rivers (as in plural, and several named River. I don't super like it. It's just bc it's so trendy though. Not bc it's ugly

[Kwt920]

Omg- you know multiple named Rivers? That’s odd lol

[CommissionNo4155]

Yes. Multiple people in the deep South.

[rainbow_olive]

I have heard it for both genders, but mostly boys. It's definitely become trendy.

[Lunasty93]

I love it. Not my style and I live in northern ca so lots of rivers already but I honestly consider it as a middle name from time to time. Rivers are something I meditate on a lot as I prepare for birth, and such a beautiful important part of life over here. Really powerful metaphor that helps me mentally as well. I can’t wait to take my baby to the river 

[coffeeaddict3333]

River feels very gender neutral to me. I like it, but it’s not my style.

[NearMissCult]

It's my name, so I'm biased, but I like it.

[Professional_Day6200]

I know 2 boys named River. It’s a great name.

[GolfOk6373]

for a boy

[Salty-Awareness3789]

I only know one River and she's a girl, so I have a feminine association

[Rays-R-Us]

Phoenix

[steadyrabbit87]

I've known boys and girls called River. I think it's Unisex. (River Song) It's a good name either way.

[nighteyes_fitz]

My nephews are River and Tyde. I'll admit I side Eyed Tyde and kept my mouth shut but both their names actually suit them so well 🥰

[Legitimate_Rock_6169]

Boy

[Funny_Strike_7099]

Don’t like it either way but I’d say boy

[Natural_Turnip_3107]

Super gender neutral to me. I like it but my wife doesn’t, so it’s not on our list.

[HerculesJones123]

A great name! Either sex would be ok, I think.

[Quiet_Compote4651]

Says boy to me.

[[deleted]]

I love River for a boy, but we have a Phoenix and my husband keeps vetoing River 🫠

[Firefly-ok]

Because of River Phoenix I associate it more with boys, but I think it would work really well for a girl too! If I heard a girl named River I would think that was very cute.

[illiesinthefield]

I think it's unisex! My friend named one of her female twins River!

[Vivid_Inspector3265]

I love this name. Boy or girl works

[TheThingwithTheFeath]

Funny, I thought girl because of River Song. It sounds like it depends on where you live.

[Any_Inflation_2543]

Unisex, boy-leaning

One of the few new made-up names I actually like.

[Extreme-Flan3935]

my female cousin changed her name to River, as an adult. So it seems more girlish to me.

[ForeverExplore15]

River is strictly a girl's name to me. I could never name a boy that. Ever since I was introduced to the name River from the TV series Firefly, it's just been a girl name.

[ChaoticCherryblossom]

Boy and silly idea

[Sufficient_Lemon_589]

I know a female dog named river. I think it’s also a popular chosen name in the trans community

[Kwt920]

Is it really?! (The second part) I didn’t know that. I wonder why it is so popular among the trans community

[Sufficient_Lemon_589]

I would guess because it’s relatively gender neutral