Baby names that mean a river
114 names with a river in their meaning: 45 for girls, 51 for boys, 18 used for both. Every one comes with its meaning and the official birth figures for England and Wales and the US. 43 of them are still given to 40 or more babies a year.
Girls' names that mean a river
Given to at least 40 babies a year in the US or England and Wales.
- Islaisland; from the river Islay1,959 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Sabrinafrom the River Severn; Romano-British origin732 a year · the US, 2017
- Loreleimurmuring rock; a Rhine river siren680 a year · the US, 2017
- Guadaluperiver of the wolf439 a year · the US, 2017
- Shannonwise river; from the river Shannon251 a year · the US, 2017
- Kyndallvalley of the river Kent; respelling of Kendall227 a year · the US, 2017
- Kyndalvalley of the river Kent; a form of Kendall with modern spelling124 a year · the US, 2017
- Kendalvalley of the river Kent122 a year · the US, 2017
- Riariver mouth; short form of Maria38 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Reevariver; a form of Reva97 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Aftonfrom the Afton river96 a year · the US, 2017
- Kendylvalley of the river Kent; a modern respelling of Kendall94 a year · the US, 2017
- Nevasnow; from Neva River94 a year · the US, 2017
- Revariver; based on Sanskrit reva61 a year · the US, 2017
- Tennesseecoosa river; place name used as given name60 a year · the US, 2017
- Eleriupper, above; a Welsh river name49 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Rivariver; also a diminutive of Rebecca45 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Kendalynvalley of the river kent; a respelling of Kendall43 a year · the US, 2017
27 rarer names that mean a river
Fewer than 40 babies a year in either country, which often means a name in wide use somewhere the records do not reach.
- Sarayuthe quickly flowing river; name of a sacred river
- Clodaghthe river Clodagh; from an Irish river name
- Aberdeenmouth of the river Dee
- Saritaflowing stream or river
- Nilblue; relating to the Nile river
- Janvidaughter of the river yamuna
- Jahnavione who flows; river of knowledge
- Riyanshione who flows like a river
- Gilafrom the gila river region
- Jaanviriver Yamuna; a sacred river in hindu tradition
- Hathawaydweller at the heath-bordered ford
- Nairiland of rivers; ancient name for Armenia
- Jhanvisacred river or goddess; daughter of a river
- Kawsarabundance; river in paradise
- Kawtharabundance, plenty; a river in paradise
- Kowsarabundance, river in paradise
- Kendallynvalley of the river Kent; a form of Kendall
- Nehirriver
- Aarnavisun and river; combination name
- Ridhimaflowing; a river
- Kaverione who gives; from the Kaveri river
- Kawtherone of the rivers in paradise
- Janhviriver ganges; waters of life
- Kausarriver in paradise; abundance
- Jaanvikafeminine form of Jaanvi or relating to the Yamuna river
- Jahnvirelating to the Ganges river
- Vjosariver name
Boys' names that mean a river
Given to at least 40 babies a year in the US or England and Wales.
- Wadeto go or ford across water899 a year · the US, 2017
- Trentonsettlement of the trent river673 a year · the US, 2017
- Zairethe river; from Congo River name349 a year · the US, 2017
- Clydefrom the river Clyde344 a year · the US, 2017
- Fordshallow river crossing340 a year · the US, 2017
- Kelvinnarrow water; from River Kelvin in Scotland325 a year · the US, 2017
- Daytonsettlement on the river Dae271 a year · the US, 2017
- Camrencrooked river; modern spelling variant of Cameron168 a year · the US, 2017
- Cliffordford by a cliff or steep bank159 a year · the US, 2017
- Irvinggreen water or west river141 a year · the US, 2017
- Tiberiusof the Tiber river106 a year · the US, 2017
- Bradfordbroad ford; a place name70 a year · the US, 2017
- Leninman of the lena river70 a year · the US, 2017
- Nilesriver Nile; of the Nile valley65 a year · the US, 2017
- Crawfordcrow ford; a place name used as a given name50 a year · the US, 2017
- Draytonsettlement on the river Dray44 a year · the US, 2017
35 rarer names that mean a river
Fewer than 40 babies a year in either country, which often means a name in wide use somewhere the records do not reach.
- Waydeford; a form of Wade
- Eivinisland river; a variant of Eyvind
- Ayrtonsettlement by the river Ayr
- Tyberiusa form of Tiberius; of the river Tiber
- Trentenswift river; a form of Trenton
- Redfordred ford; a place name
- Stanfordstony ford or crossing
- Arnoeagle river; from Old High German arn
- Staffordford by a landing place; place name
- Rexfordford of the king
- Durhamhomestead on the river Wear
- Sanfordsandy ford or crossing
- WinchesterRoman fort on the river Itchen
- Fordhamford homestead; from ford and ham
- Rockfordford near rocks; a place name used as a given name
- Tirthsacred ford; pilgrimage site or crossing
- Weilandland by the river Wey
- Eatonriver settlement; from eau and tun
- Oxfordford where oxen cross; a place name
- Pecosa river in Texas; place name origin
- Rutherfordford of cattle; place name
- Acheronriver of woe in the underworld
- Ashfordash tree ford; place name
- Deverauxfrom the river Evre; a place name surname
- Rivanshpart of a river
- Yukongreat river
- Loxtonsettlement by the river lock
- Prayagconfluence of rivers; a sacred pilgrimage site in India
- Radfordred ford; ford with reeds
- Rivingtonriver settlement; dwelling by the stream
- Tiberiasof the tiber river
- Afonriver
- Bufordford of the cattle; a place name
- Milfordmill by a ford; a place name used as a given name
- Winfordfriend's ford or crossing
Unisex names that mean a river
Given to at least 40 babies a year in the US or England and Wales.
- Kendallvalley of the river Kent1,634 a year · the US, 2017
- Monroemouth of the Roe river; a surname as given name559 a year · the US, 2017
- Rioriver305 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Riversdweller by the river; a place name109 a year · the US, 2017
- Nileriver valley; from the Nile River20 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Adairfrom the ford of the oak tree71 a year · the US, 2017
- Kendellvalley of the river Kent; a variant of Kendall61 a year · the US, 2017
- Callawayfrom the rocky stream or river47 a year · the US, 2017
- Callowaycold stream or river43 a year · the US, 2017
9 rarer names that mean a river
Fewer than 40 babies a year in either country, which often means a name in wide use somewhere the records do not reach.
- Windsorriverbank with a winch
- Avonriver in southwest England; place name
- Cambridgebridge over the river Cam
- Irwinsea friend; white river
- Jariflowing water; a river
- Wilfordwillow ford; crossing by willow trees
- Kendahlvalley of the river Kent; a form of Kendall
- Kendyvalley of the river Kent; a form of Kendall
- Alfordold ford
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Meanings that often turn up in the same names. Each has its own page.
How this page is made. A name is here because its meaning contains river, rivers, riverbank or ford or one of 1 other words close to them. It is a plain word match, not a claim that the names are related: Isla and Kendall sit together because their meanings say the same thing, not because they share a history. A name with no meaning we can stand behind is left out rather than given one.
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