River Baby Names
302 River names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
River baby names come straight from real rivers — or from words meaning “river” and “riverbank” across languages. Parents love the sense of movement a river carries, and the fact that these names sound grounded and easygoing at once.
Names lifted from real rivers
Some are place names taken directly from actual rivers: Rio, simply Spanish for “river,” Trent from England’s River Trent, and Clyde from Scotland’s River Clyde. Kasai and Zaire honor major African rivers.
Girl names with river roots
Jordan and its spelling Jordyn nod to the biblical River Jordan, while Kendall traces to England’s River Kent. Londyn and Camryn keep that same flowing feel.
Boy names with river roots
Jordan, Kelvin (Glasgow’s River Kelvin), Calder, and Conway (Wales’s River Conwy) each carry a real waterway behind them. Ford is simpler still — the old word for a shallow river crossing.
Water names beyond the river
Delta evokes where a river meets the sea, Sahil means “shore” or riverbank, and Alder honors the trees that thrive along the water’s edge.
Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.
River Girl Names
Isla#28 in the U.S.Island; from the Scottish river and island name▶Sabrina#321 in the U.S.Latinized form of the Celtic name of the River Severn in Britain. The precise Celtic meaning is▶Kendall#328 in the U.S.From a place name in Cumbria, England — Kendal — derived from Old Norse 'Kent-dale', meaning 'v▶Jordyn#371 in the U.S.Feminine spelling variant of Jordan, from the Hebrew Yarden, meaning 'to flow down' or 'descend▶Londyn#388 in the U.S.Phonetic respelling of London, from the Roman Londinium, possibly derived from a Brittonic plac▶Monroe#467 in the U.S.From the Scottish and Irish surname Munro or Monroe, derived from Gaelic 'Bun Rath' (foot of th▶Camryn#477 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Cameron, from Scottish Gaelic 'cam' (crooked) and 'sron' (nose) or 'abhainn▶Cameron#487 in the U.S.From the Scottish Gaelic surname Camshron, composed of 'cam' (crooked, bent) and 'sron' (nose) ▶Kamryn#556 in the U.S.Feminine phonetic respelling of Cameron, from Scottish Gaelic camshron meaning 'crooked nose' o▶Jordan#584 in the U.S.To flow down or descend; from Hebrew yarden, the name of the Jordan River▶Ocean#787 in the U.S.The great sea or vast expanse of water; from the Latin oceanus and Greek okeanos, the mythologi▶Guadalupe#1029 in the U.S.River of black stones; from Arabic wad (river) + Latin lupus (wolf) — a hybrid place name appli▶Laramie#1089 in the U.S.From the Laramie River and city in Wyoming; named for French-Canadian trapper Jacques La Ramée,▶India#1354 in the U.S.Land of the Indus River; from Sanskrit sindhu meaning river▶Kelani#1356 in the U.S.Heavenly flower; also a river name in Sri Lanka▶Kyndall#1518 in the U.S.a modern respelling of Kendall, an English surname meaning 'valley of the River Kent'▶Geneva#1603 in the U.S.From the place name Geneva (Latin Genava), from a Celtic root *genu- "bend," referring to the b▶Rio#1813 in the U.S.River▶Delany#2111 in the U.S.Anglicized Irish surname Ó Dubhshláine, from 'dubh' (dark/black) plus 'Sláine' (the River Slane▶Delta#2266 in the U.S.fourth letter of Greek alphabet; triangular river mouth▶Indi#2669 in the U.S.Short form of India; ultimately from the Indus River.▶Reeva#2680 in the U.S.sacred river (the Narmada)▶Darya#3280 in the U.S.Sea, large river; from the Persian word darya▶Avonlea#3446 in the U.S.Invented by L. M. Montgomery for Anne of Green Gables' village; readable as avon, the Celtic 'r▶Kendal#3599 in the U.S.From the English town Kendal — 'valley of the river Kent' — a one-l spelling of the surname Ken▶Kyndal#3601 in the U.S.Ky-styled spelling of Kendall, from the English town Kendal, 'valley of the river Kent'▶Kendyl#3716 in the U.S.From Kendall — the English town 'valley of the Kent river' — a feminine -yl spelling▶Neva#3726 in the U.S.From Spanish nieve, 'snow' (as in Sierra Nevada, 'snowy range'); also the river Neva of St. Pet▶Jori#3770 in the U.S.Short form in the Jordan/Jordana family ('to flow down', the river) or of Marjorie ('pearl'); a▶Rawan#3859 in the U.S.From Arabic/Persian — the name of a river of paradise; from a root for flowing/graceful movemen▶Lupita#3921 in the U.S.Diminutive of Guadalupe — the Marian title, place-name read 'river of the wolf' — Mexico's belo▶Jordana#4059 in the U.S.Feminine of Jordan — from Hebrew yarden, 'to flow down, descend' — the river Jordan▶Mahi#4079 in the U.S.From Sanskrit mahi, 'the earth, the great one' — also linked to 'river' and abundance▶Rivers#4622 in the U.S.From the word/surname Rivers — Old French riviere, 'riverbank' — 'dweller by the rivers'; here ▶Ona#4732 in the U.S.Lithuanian/Catalan form of Anna — from Hebrew Channah, 'grace'; also linked to 'a river'; route▶Sarayu#4745 in the U.S.From Sanskrit Sarayu — a sacred river (flowing by Ayodhya, Rama's city); also linked to 'air, w▶Riverlee#4984 in the U.S.Compound of River (the flowing waterway) and Lee ('meadow, clearing'); here for girls▶Jordy#5199 in the U.S.Pet form of Jordan/Jordana — from Hebrew Yarden, 'flowing down, descending' (the river Jordan);▶Sarita#5566 in the U.S.Spanish diminutive of Sara, 'princess; noblewoman' (Hebrew); also Sanskrit sarita, 'a flowing s▶Kendyll#5691 in the U.S.-dyll spelling of Kendall — from Old English, 'the valley of the river Kent' (the Cumbrian town▶Kausar#5862 in the U.S.From Arabic kawthar, 'abundance, plenty'; also a river of Paradise named in the Quran (sura Al-▶Tennessee#6116 in the U.S.From the U.S. state Tennessee — named for the Cherokee village/river Tanasi; the original meani▶Jaanvi#6233 in the U.S.A spelling of Janhvi/Jahnavi — from Sanskrit, 'the river Ganges; a daughter of the sage Jahnu' ▶Rivie#6327 in the U.S.A modern name, variously a pet of River ('a flowing stream') and an echo of Riviera/Riva; the p▶Jordie#6477 in the U.S.A pet form of Jordan — from Hebrew Yarden, 'to flow down; to descend' (the river Jordan); used ▶Nil#6549 in the U.S.From Turkish nil, 'the Nile river; a blue water lily; the color indigo'; also a Catalan name; u▶Aberdeen#6906 in the U.S.From the Scottish city Aberdeen — from aber, 'the mouth of a river', plus the rivers Dee/Don; '▶Bronx#6962 in the U.S.From the Bronx, a borough of New York City — named for the Bronx River and the early Dutch sett▶Hartford#7023 in the U.S.From an English place/surname — Old English heorot, 'a hart/stag', plus ford, 'a river crossing▶Raavi#7153 in the U.S.A spelling of Ravi — variously the Ravi river of Punjab and Sanskrit ravi, 'the sun'; routes la▶Indya#7349 in the U.S.A spelling of India — after the country, ultimately from the river Indus (Sanskrit Sindhu, 'a r▶Nahara#7461 in the U.S.From Aramaic/Hebrew nahara, variously 'light; brightness' and 'a river; a stream'; also Arabic ▶Riverly#7498 in the U.S.An elaboration of River — from the English word river, 'a large flowing body of water' (from La▶Deilany#7663 in the U.S.A spelling of Delaney — from an Irish surname, variously 'descendant of the challenger' (O Dubh▶Ivry#7725 in the U.S.From Hebrew ivri, 'a Hebrew; one from across (the river)'; also linked to the place Ivry; route▶Jordin#7741 in the U.S.A spelling of Jordan — from Hebrew Yarden, 'to flow down; to descend' (the river Jordan); used ▶Wylee#7907 in the U.S.A spelling of Wylie/Wiley — from an English place/surname, variously 'by the water meadow/trick▶Anhar#7980 in the U.S.From the Arabic anhar, 'rivers; streams' (the plural of nahr, 'river') — an image of flowing ab▶Delanee#8044 in the U.S.A spelling of Delaney — from the Irish surname O Dubhshlaine, variously 'descendant of the chal▶Endia#8069 in the U.S.A spelling of India — from the place India, ultimately from the river Indus (Sanskrit sindhu, '▶Oceane#8276 in the U.S.From the French Oceane — 'the ocean; of the sea' (from the Greek Okeanos, the great world-river▶Zaire#8391 in the U.S.From the African place Zaire — via the Kikongo nzere/nzadi, 'the river that swallows all rivers▶Camren#8518 in the U.S.A spelling of Cameron — from the Scottish Gaelic, variously 'a crooked nose' (cam + sron) and '▶Islarae#8622 in the U.S.A compound of Isla ('an island', after the Scottish isle/river Islay) and Rae (variously 'a doe▶Islarose#8623 in the U.S.A compound of Isla ('an island', after the Scottish isle/river Islay) and Rose ('a rose', Latin▶Kawthar#8672 in the U.S.From the Arabic kawthar, 'abundance; plenty' — also Al-Kawthar, a river in paradise and the nam▶Naida#8781 in the U.S.From the Greek naiad (naias), a water nymph of springs, rivers, and fountains. A flowing, mythi▶Indee#9143 in the U.S.A spelling of Indie — a short form of India (the country/river) and a nod to 'independent'; rou▶Kaveri#9207 in the U.S.From the Sanskrit — the name of the sacred Kaveri (Cauvery) river of South India, revered as a ▶Kendalyn#9221 in the U.S.A modern name, joining Kendall ('the valley of the river Kent') with a -lyn ending; routes laye▶Kendalynn#9222 in the U.S.A modern name, joining Kendall ('the valley of the river Kent') with a -lynn ending; routes lay▶Kendell#9223 in the U.S.A spelling of Kendall — from the Old English, 'the valley of the river Kent' (a place/surname);▶Oshyn#9375 in the U.S.A stylized spelling of Ocean — from the Greek Okeanos (the great river/sea encircling the earth▶Sejal#9422 in the U.S.From the Sanskrit/Gujarati, 'pure water; flowing river water' (sa + jal, 'with water')▶Adda#9531 in the U.S.A short form of Adela/Adelaide — from the Germanic adal, 'noble'; also a Welsh name (linked to ▶Kawsar#9862 in the U.S.A spelling of Kawthar/Kausar — from the Arabic, 'abundance; plenty'; the name of a river/founta▶Nile#10025 in the U.S.Variously the Nile River (from the Greek Neilos, the great river of Egypt) and a form of Niall/▶Oceann#10041 in the U.S.A spelling of Ocean — from the Greek Okeanos (the great river/sea encircling the earth, and its▶Remmie#10077 in the U.S.A short form of Remy/Remington — from the French Remy ('an oarsman', from the Latin remigius) o▶Shanna#10132 in the U.S.Variously a short form of Shannon ('old/wise river', Irish) and a form of Shana/Shoshana ('lily▶Nigeria#10195 in the U.S.The name of the West African country Nigeria, itself named for the Niger River (the river's nam▶Clodagh#10426 in the U.S.From the River Clodagh in County Tipperary, Ireland; a beloved Irish name of place-name origin▶
River Boy Names
Jordan#131 in the U.S.To flow down; to descend — from Hebrew Yarden, from yarad (to descend), the name of the Jordan ▶Kameron#466 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Cameron, a Scottish surname from Gaelic 'cam' (crooked) and 'sron' (nose) o▶Ford#474 in the U.S.English topographic surname from Old English 'ford,' meaning a shallow river crossing; transfer▶Zaire#503 in the U.S.From the Kikongo word nzadi o nzere meaning 'the river that swallows all rivers,' referring to ▶Rio#532 in the U.S.From Spanish and Portuguese rio meaning 'river,' derived from Latin rivus ('stream, brook'); us▶Kasai#639 in the U.S.Primarily a place name from the Kasai River in the Democratic Republic of Congo; used as a give▶Clyde#743 in the U.S.From the River Clyde in Scotland, from the Brythonic/Old Welsh Clouta or Clota, possibly meanin▶Kelvin#1080 in the U.S.From the River Kelvin in Glasgow, Scotland; of Gaelic origin, possibly from caol abhainn (narro▶Aven#1154 in the U.S.River; from Celtic abona (river, water) — the root that gives the River Avon in England its nam▶Jordy#1162 in the U.S.To flow down; a Dutch/English diminutive of Jordan, from Hebrew yarden (to descend, to flow dow▶London#1209 in the U.S.Possibly from Celtic Londinium (the Roman name for London) of uncertain meaning — possibly 'wil▶Kendall#1231 in the U.S.Valley of the River Kent▶Monroe#1282 in the U.S.Mouth of the Roe River; from the place name▶Trent#1299 in the U.S.The trespasser; the flooding river▶Alder#1421 in the U.S.Alder tree, the riverside tree▶Hampton#1521 in the U.S.from an Old English place name and surname meaning "home settlement" or "settlement by a meadow▶Conway#1526 in the U.S.From the River Conwy; or Gaelic 'yellow hound'▶Alton#1566 in the U.S.Town at the source of the river▶Lester#1580 in the U.S.From the English place name Leicester, meaning a Roman camp (Latin 'castra') by the river Legra▶Irving#1617 in the U.S.From the Scottish place name Irvine/Irving, from a Brythonic river name meaning 'green or fresh▶Neel#1854 in the U.S.River▶Clinton#1933 in the U.S.Settlement on the River Glyme▶Calder#1991 in the U.S.From a river/place name and surname meaning 'hard/rapid water' or 'rocky stream', from Brittoni▶Kenton#2117 in the U.S.Town on the River Kenn▶Sahil#2463 in the U.S.Shore; riverbank; guide; from Arabic sahil (shore, coast, the bank of a river or sea)▶Rivers#2512 in the U.S.(one who lives by the) riverbank; from 'de Rivers'▶Myheir#2812 in the U.S.River swallowing rivers▶Neyland#2976 in the U.S.From a place name of Old English origin, likely derived from elements meaning island or land ne▶Bradford#2994 in the U.S.Broad ford; a wide river crossing place▶Kam#3011 in the U.S.Crooked nose; crooked river (as short form of Cameron)▶Leam#3015 in the U.S.Strong-willed warrior; protector (as variant of Liam)▶Aarvik#3036 in the U.S.Possibly 'eagle bay' or 'river bay,' from Old Norse arn/á and vík▶Aras#3096 in the U.S.Primarily from Kurdish aras meaning eagle, and also the name of the Araxes River (called Aras i▶Jordon#3288 in the U.S.Variant of Jordan, from the river whose Hebrew name Yarden means 'to descend, flow down'▶Aire#3386 in the U.S.The element of air in romance-tinged spelling; also the River Aire of Yorkshire, a Celtic river▶Jorden#3412 in the U.S.Variant of Jordan, from the river whose Hebrew name Yarden means 'to descend, flow down'▶Reno#3433 in the U.S.From Reno, Nevada — named for Civil War general Jesse Lee Reno, whose surname anglicized French▶Kendell#3551 in the U.S.Double-l spelling of Kendall — the English town 'valley of the river Kent'; a surname-name▶Wayde#3582 in the U.S.Spelling of Wade — from Old English wadan, 'to go, to ford', or a river-crossing place-name; al▶Guadalupe#3620 in the U.S.From the Spanish shrine and title of Our Lady of Guadalupe; the place-name from Arabic wadi, 'r▶Nilo#3655 in the U.S.From Latin Nilus, 'the Nile river'; also a short form of names like Danilo/Nilson, and linked t▶Kendal#3727 in the U.S.Single-l spelling of Kendall — the English town 'valley of the river Kent'▶Avan#3786 in the U.S.From Sanskrit avana, 'protection, favor' — or the Celtic river-word afon/Avon; routes layered▶Kanyon#3836 in the U.S.K-styling of Canyon — Spanish cañón, the deep river gorge — landscape as name▶Holston#3910 in the U.S.From the Holston River (settler Stephen Holstein's anglicized name) and holly-stone surname lin▶Hudsen#3911 in the U.S.-sen styling of Hudson — 'son of Hudde (Hugh's pet form)' — river-wide▶Rhone#3951 in the U.S.From the Rhône river — ancient Rhodanus, Celtic 'swift water' readings — vineyard-valleyed▶Wylee#3967 in the U.S.-ee styling of Wiley — the Wylye river-meadow surname, 'tricky' adjective adjacent▶Zhaire#3972 in the U.S.Zh- styling of Zaire — the African river/nation name (from a Kikongo word for 'river'); routes ▶Klyde#4016 in the U.S.K-spelling of Clyde — from the Scottish river Clyde, an old river-name of uncertain meaning▶Brad#4074 in the U.S.Short form of Bradley/Bradford — Old English brad, 'broad', plus leah, 'clearing', or ford, 'ri▶Jafar#4610 in the U.S.From Arabic Ja'far, 'a stream, a small river, a rivulet'; a cousin of the Prophet bore it▶Rhydian#4659 in the U.S.From Welsh rhyd, 'a ford (a river crossing)', plus a diminutive — 'of the ford; little ford'▶Jordani#4776 in the U.S.Elaboration of Jordan — from Hebrew Yarden, 'flowing down, descending' (the river Jordan)▶Indie#4933 in the U.S.From 'indie' (independent), and/or a short form of Indiana/India (from the Indus river); here f▶Arda#5059 in the U.S.From Turkish Arda — a river name (and modern name); also linked to 'a fertile/holy place'; and ▶Brazos#5074 in the U.S.From the Brazos River — from Spanish Los Brazos de Dios, 'the arms of God'; a place/word-name▶Jordin#5126 in the U.S.-in spelling of Jordan — from Hebrew Yarden, 'flowing down, descending' (the river Jordan); her▶Rexford#5187 in the U.S.From an English place-name/surname — Latin rex, 'king', plus Old English ford, 'a river crossin▶Tigran#5202 in the U.S.From Armenian/Persian Tigran, 'a great king' (the kings Tigranes; possibly linked to 'a tiger' ▶Ziare#5219 in the U.S.Spelling of Zaire/Zyaire — from the Congo River, Kikongo nzere/nzadi, 'the river that swallows ▶Arno#5242 in the U.S.Short form of Arnold/Arnulf — from Germanic arn, 'eagle' — 'eagle-ruler/eagle-wolf'; also the T▶Avon#5245 in the U.S.From the Celtic/Welsh afon, 'a river' (several English rivers, including Shakespeare's Avon)▶Carey#5258 in the U.S.From the Irish surname O'Ciardha, 'descendant of Ciardha (the dark one)'; also a Welsh place-na▶Jordany#5310 in the U.S.Latina elaboration of Jordan — from Hebrew Yarden, 'flowing down, descending' (the river Jordan▶Kroi#5334 in the U.S.A modern spelling of Croy — a Scottish place-name/surname (linked to 'a nook' or the river Croy▶Wilton#5629 in the U.S.From the English place/surname Wilton — from Old English, 'the farm/town by the stream' (the Ri▶Dace#5692 in the U.S.From the word dace (a small river fish); also a pet form of Dacey, 'from the south', or a moder▶Leven#5785 in the U.S.From the Scottish place-name Leven — a river name, variously 'a smooth/flooding river' or 'an e▶Ewell#5877 in the U.S.Ewell began as an English surname taken from the town of Ewell in Surrey, whose name comes from▶Ennis#5970 in the U.S.From the Irish place Ennis (Inis), 'an island; a river-meadow/water-meadow'; also linked to a f▶Nahir#6069 in the U.S.From Arabic nahir, 'a river; flowing water', and nahir/nayyir, 'luminous, clear, radiant'; also▶Afton#6179 in the U.S.From the English place-name Afton — the Afton river in Scotland, and 'Afa's settlement' (a pers▶Jourdan#6292 in the U.S.A spelling of Jordan — from Hebrew Yarden, 'to flow down; to descend' (the river Jordan); used ▶Stafford#6401 in the U.S.From the English place-name/surname Stafford — from Old English staeth, 'a landing place, a sta▶Ladon#6652 in the U.S.Variously the Greek Ladon (the name of a dragon guarding the golden apples and a river god) and▶Rivansh#6724 in the U.S.A modern Sanskrit-style name, variously linked to a 'part/portion' (-ansh) sense and a river/et▶Cameryn#6881 in the U.S.A spelling of Cameron — from Scottish Gaelic cam, 'crooked; bent', plus sron, 'nose', or abhain▶Jhordan#7000 in the U.S.A Latin-American spelling of Jordan — from Hebrew Yarden, 'to flow down; to descend' (the river▶Sanford#7159 in the U.S.From an English place/surname — Old English sand, 'sand', plus ford, 'a river crossing'; 'the s▶Ashford#7271 in the U.S.From an English place/surname, 'the ford by the ash trees' (Old English aesc, 'ash', + ford, 'a▶Dacre#7319 in the U.S.From the English (Cumbrian) place/surname Dacre, 'a trickling stream' (a Brittonic/Cumbric rive▶Brae#7349 in the U.S.From the Scots word brae, 'the steep bank of a hill or river; a hillside.' A short, airy nature▶Drin#7349 in the U.S.An Albanian name after the river Drin (the longest river in Albania); also a short form of name▶Kameryn#7470 in the U.S.A spelling of Cameron — from a Scottish surname, 'crooked nose' (cam, 'crooked', + sron, 'nose'▶Reacher#7602 in the U.S.From an English surname, variously 'one who lives by a reach/stretch of river' and 'one who liv▶Stanford#7647 in the U.S.From an English place/surname, 'the stony ford; a stone river-crossing' (Old English stan, 'sto▶Taiga#7659 in the U.S.From Japanese, variously written with kanji read 'big; great' (tai) + 'river' (ga) or 'elegant'▶Yordi#7706 in the U.S.A form of Jordi (the Catalan George) — from Greek georgos, 'a farmer; an earthworker'; also lin▶Dren#7870 in the U.S.An Albanian name, commonly read as 'deer; roe deer,' also tied to the river Drin. A short, stro▶Zhyair#8241 in the U.S.Zhyair is a modern American coinage, one of many spellings in the Zaire/Zyaire/Zyair family. Za▶Yordan#8261 in the U.S.A Bulgarian/Slavic form of Jordan — from the Hebrew Yarden, 'to flow down; to descend' (the riv▶Aeron#8274 in the U.S.A Welsh name tied to the river Aeron and, by tradition, to Aeron, a figure linked to battle in ▶Achille#8296 in the U.S.A French/Italian form of Achilles — the Greek hero of the Iliad (of uncertain older root, possi▶Araz#8303 in the U.S.From the Aras (Araz), the great river that runs along the borders of Turkey, Armenia, Iran, and▶Alwyn#8319 in the U.S.From the Old English Aethelwine/Aelfwine, variously 'a noble friend' and 'an elf friend' (aelf,▶Gunnison#8395 in the U.S.An American place name and surname. The Gunnison River, town, and county in Colorado are named ▶Caulder#8405 in the U.S.A form/spelling of Calder — from the Scottish/Celtic, 'a rough/rocky stream; a stony river' (ca▶Tyberius#8851 in the U.S.A modern Ty- respelling of Tiberius, a Roman name taken from the river Tiber. The emperor Tiber▶Tay#8869 in the U.S.A short form of Taylor ('a tailor') and Tyler ('a tile-maker'); also a Scottish river name (the▶Yarrow#8922 in the U.S.From the English word yarrow (Old English gearwe), 'the yarrow plant', a wild flowering herb lo▶Jhordy#9365 in the U.S.A spelling of Jordy/Jordi — a short form of Jordan, from the Hebrew Yarden, 'to flow down; the ▶Pecos#9466 in the U.S.Pecos is a place name from the American Southwest: the Pecos River, which runs from New Mexico ▶Leith#9481 in the U.S.From the Scottish place-name Leith (a port of Edinburgh) — from the Gaelic/Brittonic, variously▶Alyn#9612 in the U.S.A spelling of Alan (Welsh Alun), of Celtic/Breton origin, variously read as 'little rock,' 'han▶Oxford#9614 in the U.S.From the English place-name Oxford — from the Old English oxa, 'ox', + ford, 'a river crossing'▶Zairo#9838 in the U.S.A modern name, variously an echo of Zaire (the river/country) and Jairo ('God enlightens/shines▶Avani#9982 in the U.S.From the Sanskrit avani, 'the earth; the ground; a river' (a name of the earth-mother); more of▶Douglass#10135 in the U.S.A spelling of Douglas — from the Scottish Gaelic dubh glas, 'dark stream/river' (dubh, 'dark', ▶Jafari#10142 in the U.S.A Swahili name from the Arabic Ja'far, 'stream; rivulet; small river' — borne by Ja'far ibn Abi▶Fen#10180 in the U.S.Variously from the English fen ('a marsh; a low wetland') and the Chinese Fen (variously 'fragr▶Giordano#10202 in the U.S.The Italian form of Jordan — from the Hebrew Yarden, 'to flow down/descend'; the Jordan river (▶Hartford#10232 in the U.S.From the English place-name Hartford, 'the ford where the harts (deer) cross' (heorot, 'hart/st▶Kel#10378 in the U.S.A short form of Kelvin (from the Scottish River Kelvin, 'narrow water') or Kelly (Irish, 'brigh▶Kendale#10385 in the U.S.A spelling of Kendall, from an English place-name, 'the valley of the River Kent' (Kent, a rive▶Kendel#10386 in the U.S.A spelling of Kendall, from an English place-name, 'the valley of the River Kent' (Kent, a rive▶Konway#10429 in the U.S.A spelling of Conway, variously from the Welsh River Conwy ('holy/reedy water') or the Irish, '▶Nashua#10551 in the U.S.A place name from the Nashua River and the New Hampshire city, of Algonquian origin often read ▶
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Frequently Asked
What are river baby names?
River baby names are names taken from real rivers or from words meaning “river” or “riverbank,” like Rio, Trent, Clyde and Jordan. They’re popular for their sense of movement, journey and connection to nature.
What are good girl names inspired by rivers?
Jordan, Jordyn, Kendall, Londyn and Camryn are river-rooted girl names, tracing back to real waterways like the River Jordan and England’s River Kent.
What are good boy names inspired by rivers?
Jordan, Kelvin, Calder, Conway and Ford are strong river-inspired boy names — several named directly after rivers in Scotland, Wales and England.
Are there river names that aren’t place names?
Yes — Delta and Sahil describe river features and edges rather than naming a specific river, giving parents a water-inspired option without the place-name feel.
How many river baby names are on More4Kids?
More4Kids lists 302 river baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.