JFF Mommy Poll: What Do You Think of the Name River for a Boy?

I think of it as an archetypical hippie name, thanks to River Phoenix, but it's quite handsome in its way.

River Phoenix.

I also had a friend in the military named River. We called him Riv.

I probably wouldn't name my son River, but I wouldn't name him 500+ other names, also. Not that they aren't nice names, just that they're not my cuppa.

I love it. And I love it for a boy.

The names that I'm not crazy about are the super trendy ones. My kids' elementary school class... Jayden, Hayden, Caden, Aiden, Gavin, Logan Evan.

Love it. Also reminds me of River Phoenix but that's not a bad thing IMO.

I know two people with boys named River. I like it.

Not my cup of tea at all. I much prefer traditional names than ones having to do with objects or places.

I like it for a boy. I know one boy in our neighborhood named River. I'm not fond of the ongoing trend to make all names female. And I do like names that are not on the top 100 lists.

Its nice.

I also know some boys of friends that are named:
Reef
Cage
Blaze
But River is better than those names. ;)

The most famous River name is of course, River Phoenix.

I wouldn't use it myself, but I think it is cute.

@TF Plano - I can hear the deep bass voice singing, "Old man, River...."

HM

Makes me think of River Phoenix.

And also one of my girlfriends named her dog, River.

Would **I** name my son/child River? No. But that's me.

If you have native Indian heritage, it might be a great way to carry on the heritage! If you like it - you go with it!!

I know two little boys named River. Then there is also River Phoenix....for thos who remember him...
I love it for a boy (and I am usually pretty conservative when it comes to names).

A little boy in my son's preschool class is named River. My hubby and I just had a conversation about it, too, wondering where it came from. River Phoenix crossed my mind as well.

It is something different.

There are a lot of "contemporary" names that I like, but would never use myself. River is one of them. Might not be as uncommon as one might think though...

I think it sounds more feminine than masculine.
Cliff sounds masculine to me.

i like it. it's one of those names that can be used for boy or girl.

Not a fan. I either think of River Phoenix (who is dead) or River from FireFly (who is cool but crazy, and a woman). Unless you have some Native American heritage, I would pick another name. I knew a kid named Forrest when I was in grade school and I always thought, "Why did your parents name you after trees?"

I think people will always make the River Phoenix correlation. He died a not so great death, so I wouldn't use it for my kid, personally.

Personally, no I don't care for it but it is your child not mine so your call.

Imagine an 80+ yr old man River

I also think of River Phoenix and River from Firefly.

If you like it, go for it! You're the one that's going to be calling the name out for the rest of your life! LOL!

I don't like it for a boy. I like it more for a girl

I love it! I had considered it for a girl's name actually, had #4 been a girl, but I love it for a boy, too.

I don't get it. To me it's no different than naming a child "Lake" or "Ocean" or "Mountain". Not a name in my opinion.

I like it.

Because of River Phoenix I always associate it with a boys name...not a girls like others have said.

I have known a River...
as well as a:
Leaf
Ivy
Arijauna
Poppy
Shaben
Calob
Teague

Don't like it. Sorry. Personally, I like more traditional names.

I kinda like it.

But the question is: Do YOU like it? :)

You could do a lot worse than River.

It's unique. Could possibly grow on me. My first instinct is that it's a bit girly though.

Since seeing Dr. Who and Firefly, I can't imagine River for anyone but a girl. I don't think it's very masculine, anyway.

Don't really care for it personally

I like it because of River Phoenix.

Actually, I really like the name, but it looks like the name is trending female. There is the character River from Firefly, and more recently, on the extremely popular British show Dr. Who, there has been Professor River Song, also female and a love interest. There are two Rivers in my daughter's various classes, and they are both girls, as well. Just my experience, and it could be a unisex name that in my area is trending female, but something to think about.

Wouldn't be my first pick. I'm also of the generation that recalls River Phoenix.

That said, I don't think it would be a horrible hindrance socially or anything like that. Chances are, his peers wouldn't make the connection. Just be careful with noun names-- I went to school with a "Levi" and like AV's post, I kept wondering why the parents named their kid after a pair of blue jeans.

I like it. It's unique without being wack-a-doodle!

I think it works as both a girls name and a boys name. But personally, I now associate it mostly as a girls name because I love the character River Song from Doctor Who.

I expect a boy named River to have the last name Phoenix.

Makes me think of River Phoenix - didn't he die of an OD or something.... I wouldn't pick it b/c of that. An unusual name like that, you can't get away from the reference.

I really don't like it. I know three boys named River, so it's becoming more and more popular. Of the three, one is a nice boy, one is autistic, and the third is aggressive, defiant, got kicked out of kindergarten on his second day and is just an all around pain in the neck. So, a combination of bad associations and just generally thinking it's a lame name make me say No Way!

I don't care for it personally but it is your child.

I see others commenting that it is trending to a girl name. As fair warning we named our second son a traditional boy name which has been hijacked as a girl's name. As a result the younger crowd assumes my son is a girl and they look at me funny when I tell them he is a boy. Sheesh...it's not my fault people turned a boy's name into a girl's name. Keep me posted for when Sally or Jane or Jill becomes cool for a boy. Sigh. As you can tell it quite honestly drives me bonkers at times. Good luck.

I don't really care for it.

I like more traditional names. He has to live with it for the rest of his life:)

This is what I think of:
http://search.aol.com/aol/image?q=river+phoenix&v_t=k...

Smiles!

IMO It sounds like you're trying too hard.

I expect a little boy named River to have completely stereotypical parents, the hippies with organic clothing and dreadlocks, or the parents that think they're hip and some sort of rock stars (though they're probably more likely to name the kid Rio).

I think what u and ur hubby think is all that matters, but since u did ask I will say that the typical random.stranger (depending on their age) may immediately think of the actor River Phoenix...remember him? As for your baby's peers and future school mates, I think it would be too far removed for them to think od that actor. In the end, whatever u name your baby that is who ur child will be...it will just b HIM! And likely u will not b able to imagine u could have called him anything other!! Congrats btw... :)

Not my favorite, but I tend toward traditional.