Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Rio
UnisexSpanish, Portuguese· “river”
- Meaning
- river
- Origin
- Spanish, Portuguese
- Pronunciation
- REE-oh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #532
- US babies 2025
- 563
- Best rank
- #517 (2024)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Rio
Rio is a Spanish and Portuguese name that means “river”.
Rio is the Spanish and Portuguese word for river, from the Latin rivus, stream. It is familiar worldwide through Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and many other place names in the Americas. As a given name Rio has a sunny, energetic sound and is used for both boys and girls. It fits among popular nature names such as River and Brooks while adding a Latin flair. Rio is short and easy to pronounce in many languages, and it pairs well with longer, more traditional middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Reo.
Famous parents who chose Rio: Emily VanCamp and Josh Bowman (2024). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Rio first appears in US Social Security records in 1920. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 6 different years, starting in 2020. Its best national rank was #517 in 2024, the same year it reached its highest count of 593 babies. In 2025, 563 babies were named Rio, and it ranked #532 nationally. That is 447% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #4,840 in 1920, #3,570 in 1980, #1,778 in 2000, #1,490 in 2010, and #532 in 2025. Of the 5,530 US boys named Rio since records began, 53% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 1,246 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Amiri, Jream, Sevyn, Akari, and Azariah.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Rio ranked highest in District of Columbia, New Mexico, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #163 | 6 |
| New Mexico | #263 | 8 |
| California | #316 | 116 |
| Florida | #337 | 58 |
| New York | #358 | 50 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Rio is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 25% of US babies named Rio were girls and 75% were boys.
Rio is usually pronounced REE-oh, with two syllables. It has three letters, starts with R and ends in “-io”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Reo.
Middle names for Rio
A few middle names that flow with Rio: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rio
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Lists that include Rio
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rio mean?
Rio is a Spanish and Portuguese name that means “river”.
What is the origin of the name Rio?
Rio has Spanish and Portuguese roots. Rio is the Spanish and Portuguese word for river, from the Latin rivus, stream.
Is Rio a popular name?
Yes. Rio ranked #532 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Rio a boy or girl name?
Rio is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 25% of US babies named Rio were girls and 75% were boys.
How do you pronounce Rio?
Rio is usually pronounced REE-oh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings