Names That Mean River
Across 5 pages
of 5
The names
Sabrina
Celtic, Latin name for the River Severn
Sabrina, the bewitchingly radiant name of a legendary Celtic goddess, is best known as the heroine of the eponymous film, originally played by Audrey Hepburn, and later as a teenage TV witch; it…
Kendall
English
"valley of the river Kent"
Originally an English surname, borrowed from the place name, Kendale, Kendall was given almost exclusively to boys until the 40s when it began to be used for a small number of girls each year. By the…
Wade
English
"at the river crossing"
Wade has never been outside the US Top 1000 for boys - there's a reason for that. It has a clean spelling, fresh sound and is neither too trendy (unlike Kade or Cade) or too old-school (like Richard…
Monroe
Scottish
"mouth of the Roe river"
Monroe is a presidential name which, thanks to the immortal beauty of Marilyn Monroe, is catching on fast for baby girls. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon chose it for their twin daughter, honoring…
Zaire
Place name, Congo
"the river that swallows all rivers"
Zaire was a Central African state from 1971 to 1997 that has recently risen up the charts as a boys name. Deriving from a Congo term meaning "the river that swallows all rivers", it makes a bold and…
Truett
English surname
"dry wood + river bend; true and strong"
A name which strikes the balance between gentle and strong, Truett has been a fast rising option in the 2020s. Given to 131 American boys in 2019, a more recent count saw it given to 578, placing it…
Rio
Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese
"river; place of the cherry blossoms"
Rio is a reductive ranchero place-name with an attractive Tex-Mex lilt. No Doubt's Tom Dumont has a son named Rio Atticus. Also a South American place name, and associated with the Rio Grande, it's…
Clyde
Scottish river name
Even though in the past Clyde may have been identified as half of the infamous outlaw duo with partner Bonnie Parker—especially after the 1967 movie in which he was played by Warren Beatty—Clyde has…
Zyair
Variation of Zaire, Kongo
"the river that swallows all rivers"
One of the many new spellings of Zaire that has been climbing the charts lately.
Romney
Welsh
"winding river"
Brings to mind the romantic and elegant eighteenth century portraits of George Romney.
Reva
Hindi river name; Hebrew
"rain"
Refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India.
Po
Italian river name
The good news: the Po is Italy's longest river, flowing across the north. The bad news: Po is a manic, scooter-riding red Teletubby.
Kallan
Scandinavian
"stream, river"
Name with genuine roots that nevertheless feels synthetic.
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…
Nairne
Scottish
"river with alder trees"
A name with a pleasing nature meaning, a surname style, and pleasant Scottish burr. Reminiscent of Mare, Raine, and Blair, it is as yet undiscovered as a first name.
Ria
Spanish
"small river"
Short and feminine, Ria has a rhythmic flow.
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…
Alun
Welsh spelling of Alan; river in Wales
This name of a river in Wales represents a vowel change from Alan, which makes the name somewhat more intriguing, but still possibly not intriguing enough. Bonus points if you're a surfer, sailor, or…
Alwyn
Welsh river name
This Welsh river name has possibilities as a place name and nature name that is rare and uncommon.
Wharton
English
"farm near the river"
Wharton is a rather stiff banker name that becomes creative as a middle name choice for lovers of the novels of writer Edith.