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Home › Baby Names Directory › Riven

Riven

♂ Boy

Pronounced RIV-ən /ˈrɪv.ən/High

Meaning: From the English word riven, 'split, torn' (Old Norse rifa) — also a Myst game and League championMedium

In 30 seconds: Cleft like lightning-struck oak: Riven is the old word for 'split through' — and two beloved video-game legends. Dramatic, windswept, and screen-born twice.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Norse
MeaningFrom the English word riven, 'split, torn' (Old Norse rifa) — also a Myst game and League champion
U.S. rank (2025)#2414 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births57 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 312

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202520082025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Riven comes from the English past participle 'split, cleft' — Old Norse rifa, 'to tear'. The Myst sequel and the League champion lifted the stormy word into name use.

It registers thinly in records. Very rare, cleft at the root, and atmospheric.

Did you know? Riven was the haunting 1997 sequel to Myst and later a sword-broken League of Legends exile — a word for 'torn' that keeps finding stories.
Overall data confidence 70%
Oxford English Dictionary — riven — word origin

Variations

RivanRyven

Nicknames

Riv

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Riven…

Ryder— a fellow swift modern pick
Raiden— the companion game-famous name
Wren— another windswept one-of-a-kind
Rylen— a fellow English choice
Ryden— a fellow English choice

Explore names like Riven

By themeenglishword-namepop-culture

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Riven mean?

Riven is the English word for 'split, torn', from Old Norse rifa.

How do you pronounce Riven?

It's said RIV-ən /ˈrɪv.ən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Riven a boy or girl name?

Riven is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Riven?

Riven is a very rare name in the U.S.

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