Names That Mean River
Across 5 pages
of 5
Waveney
English
"quagmire river"
A totally one-of-a-kind Waverly alternative with historic roots. The River Waveney runs between Suffolk and Norfolk in England. The river's name was derived from the Old English wagen , meaning…
Tuna
Turkish
"Danube river"
The Turkish name for the Danube River. Tuna is technically a unisex name in Turkey, yet it is more common among boys.
Luknė
Lithuanian river name
"bending, flexible"
Luknė is the name of a Lithuanian river that has been adapted into a hit baby name. It peaked in 2019 as the third-most-popular name for Lithuanian baby girls. Luknė is derived from the Lithuanian…
Teifi
Welsh, river name
The Teifi is a river in south-west Wales, entering the sea near the town of Cardigan (whose Welsh name is Aberteifi). It is occasionally used for boys and girls in Wales, and even more occasionally…
Nehir
Turkish
"river"
Turkish cognate of the name River among English-speakers. However, unlike River, Nehir is an exclusively feminine name in Turkey.
Nigeria
Modern coinage
"country on the Niger river"
A patriotic choice for parents with a connection to the West African nation. The name Nigeria was coined by colonialists in 1897, after the Niger River which flows through the country. The river name…
Irmak
Turkish
"river"
Two names meaning "river" make the Turkish Top 100 for girls — Nehir and Irmak. Irmak is the less popular of the two.
Adair
Scottish and Irish, Brazilian
"oak tree ford; wealthy spearman; wealth and fame"
A unisex name with lots of flair and a daring spirit, Adair was first noticed as a girl's name in the 1980's, thanks to the long-running daytime drama Search for Tomorrow , with the character Adair…
Hafren
Welsh river name
The modern Welsh name for the River Severn, the longest river in Britain, which partly forms the border between England and Wales. Both Severn and Hafren come from the ancient British name Sabrina.
Anahita
Persian
"immaculate"
Anahita is the name of the water goddess who rules, among other things, fertility and wisdom. Associated with Venue, Anahita is a stylish Iranian name for girls. Anahita was derived from the Old…
Clodagh
Irish river name
A popular choice in Ireland, Clodagh was the name of a river and later a saint. The "cloddy" aspect of the name has prevented it from spreading beyond Ireland, but that could change with the rise of…
Guadalupe
Spanish from Arabic
"hidden river, valley of the wolves"
Popular Spanish name that relates to the patron saint of Mexico. It could conceivably, like Soledad and Consuelo, cross the border into multicultural territory, but the name's decline since the…
India
Place name, from the River Indus
Euphonious and long stylish in England, India was one of the fastest-rising names on the 2013 list, after jumping 240 spots back into the Top 1000. Gorgeous as it may be, the usage of India as a name…
Kallan
Scandinavian
"stream, river"
Name with genuine roots that nevertheless feels synthetic.
Leith
Scottish, river name
Traditionally a male name, Leith now can make a highly unusual, strong but soft, and intriguing girls' possibility.
Loire
French river and region name
The lovely sound and image of the French river and lush valley would make this a most distinctive and captivating choice. Pronunciation: low-ahr.
Ria
Spanish
"small river"
Short and feminine, Ria has a rhythmic flow.