River is an established name used for both girls and boys that has climbed to its highest level yet, peaking in 2022.
River is predominantly a boy name. In 2025 it ranked #111 among boys (3,139) and #220 among girls (1,401) — overall #125 across all names. The charts below show girls and boys separately.
| Year | U.S. births | U.S. + territories | ♀ Rank | ♂ Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,540 | 4,540 | #220 | #111 |
| 2024 | 4,602 | 4,602 | #215 | #112 |
| 2023 | 4,704 | 4,704 | #193 | #116 |
| 2022 | 5,430 | 5,430 | #150 | #105 |
| 2021 | 5,390 | 5,390 | #149 | #110 |
| 2020 | 4,378 | 4,378 | #184 | #129 |
| 2019 | 3,812 | 3,812 | #212 | #168 |
| 2018 | 3,411 | 3,411 | #244 | #197 |
| 2017 | 3,150 | 3,150 | #270 | #200 |
| 2016 | 2,984 | 2,984 | #285 | #212 |
| 2015 | 2,467 | 2,467 | #348 | #244 |
| 2014 | 1,951 | 1,951 | #453 | #287 |
| 2013 | 1,318 | 1,318 | #586 | #371 |
| 2012 | 1,134 | 1,134 | #683 | #405 |
| 2011 | 938 | 938 | #892 | #424 |
| 2010 | 896 | 896 | #975 | #434 |
| 2009 | 900 | 900 | #951 | #449 |
| 2008 | 860 | 860 | #1,052 | #454 |
| 2007 | 693 | 693 | #1,130 | #554 |
| 2006 | 686 | 686 | #1,298 | #514 |
| 2005 | 568 | 568 | #2,051 | #517 |
| 2004 | 520 | 520 | #1,890 | #549 |
| 2003 | 460 | 460 | #2,341 | #571 |
| 2002 | 396 | 396 | #2,405 | #611 |
| 2001 | 395 | 395 | #2,254 | #608 |
| 2000 | 365 | 365 | #2,849 | #612 |
| 1999 | 414 | 414 | #2,600 | #559 |
| 1998 | 488 | 488 | #2,605 | #496 |
| 1997 | 434 | — | #2,764 | #519 |
| 1996 | 305 | — | #3,287 | #632 |
| 1995 | 303 | — | #4,189 | #619 |
| 1994 | 153 | — | #7,494 | #926 |
| 1993 | 66 | — | #7,364 | #1,658 |
| 1992 | 44 | — | #11,417 | #2,121 |
| 1991 | 40 | — | #7,306 | #2,528 |
| 1990 | 43 | — | #8,359 | #2,205 |
| 1989 | 40 | — | — | #1,887 |
| 1988 | 18 | — | #13,384 | #3,862 |
| 1987 | 13 | — | — | #3,685 |
| 1986 | 5 | — | — | #7,588 |
| 1982 | 6 | — | — | #6,235 |
| 1981 | 5 | — | — | #7,057 |
| 1975 | 7 | — | — | #4,681 |
| 1974 | 5 | — | — | #5,836 |
| 1972 | 8 | — | — | #3,895 |
| 1971 | 6 | — | — | #4,806 |