Total births
39,676
Unisex name · since 1971
River
Since 1971, U.S. Social Security records show 39,676 babies named River, peaking in 2021. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #112
- among boys today
- 39,676
- born since 1971
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 99.2%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- River is the #112 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 39,676 recorded since 1971.
Social Security Administration records show River recorded 39,676 times among boys since 1971, holding rank #112 nationally today, ahead of 99.2% of boys, peaking in the 2020s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1971 to 2025.
- #112 among boys today
- 39,676 born since 1971
- 2020s peak decade
- 99.2% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
River is currently the #112 unisex name in America, more common than 99.2% of boys - 39,676 born since 1971, peaking in the 2020s.
- #112
- among boys today
- 39,676
- born since 1971
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 99.2%
- more common than other boys
River vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#112
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 99.2% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
48% of everyone ever named River was born in this single decade.
2021
Single peak year
3,504 babies were named River in 2021 - its busiest year on record.
How River compares
39,676 Top 4% higher than 96% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
River's all-time total is 108x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | River | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 39,676 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 3,504 | 23 | 22,252 |
River's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
River splits its recorded history at 2003: 92% of all births land in the more recent half, 8% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1974 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2021 peak of 3,504 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
River at a glance
Top 1,000 boys' namePeak year
2021
Current rank
#112
Active since
1971
River popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1971–2025
- Peak year (2021)
- 3,504
- Annual births at peak, across 55 years of records
River popularity over time - girls
19,675 total births recorded since 1988 (River as girls' name)
River by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was River's strongest decade.
19,236 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.
River births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 26
1970s
26 births
- 1980s 82
1980s
82 births
- 1990s 2,023
1990s
2,023 births
- 2000s 4,449
2000s
4,449 births
- 2010s
2010s
13,860 births
- 2020s
2020s
19,236 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 19,236 births (48% of all-time use).
How River compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to River's total volume
River vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
River by state
Where River concentrates geographically, total births since 1971
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 3,937 | 9.9% |
| #2 | Texas | | 3,507 | 8.8% |
| #3 | Florida | | 1,895 | 4.8% |
| #4 | North Carolina | | 1,627 | 4.1% |
| #5 | Georgia | | 1,529 | 3.9% |
| #6 | Tennessee | | 1,511 | 3.8% |
| #7 | Ohio | | 1,390 | 3.5% |
| #8 | Washington | | 1,139 | 2.9% |
California share of River's total US births 9.9%
Even split
3,937 of 39,676 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 51 reporting states.
River appears in 51 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name River? ▼
River has been given to 39,676 babies in the U.S. since 1971, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #112 as of the latest data. 3,504 babies were born in 2021, its single highest year.
When was River most popular? ▼
River was most popular in the 2020s decade with 19,236 total births. The single peak year was 2021.
Where is River most popular? ▼
The top states for the name River are California (3,937 births), Texas (3,507 births), Florida (1,895 births).
Is River a unisex name? ▼
Yes, River is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 39,676 births, and as a girl's name it has 19,675 births.
How long has the name River been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked River since 1971 -- 55 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to River? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rivers, Rivaan, Riven, Rivaldo, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with River's data
- California records the most Rivers (3,937 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring River
Nearby Names Like River
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to River
Rivers Boy
#2507 1,888 births
Rivaan Boy
#3155 491 births
Riven Boy
#3780 312 births
Rivaldo Boy
237 births
Rivan Boy
#5856 224 births
Compare River side by side: River vs Rivers River vs Rivaan River vs Riven
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to River
Vincent #111
363,296 births · Peak 1962
Emiliano #113
42,844 births · Peak 2025
Damian #110
109,920 births · Peak 2013
Jace #114
91,544 births · Peak 2013
Adriel #109
33,645 births · Peak 2025
Archer #115
31,391 births · Peak 2025
Austin #108
438,042 births · Peak 1995
Lorenzo #116
85,752 births · Peak 2025
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1971–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "River: #112 Unisex Name - 39,676 Births, Peak 2021." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/river. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for River draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.