Rio
Meaning: not confirmed (origin debated)
About the name Rio
The origin of Rio is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Spanish roots, with the meaning “River”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Rio we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a nature, unique, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Rio ranked #532 for boys in the US, with 563 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2024. Since 2000, 73% of US babies named Rio were boys.
- US rank 2025
- #532
- In 2015
- #1577
- Babies in 2025
- 563
Popularity of Rio, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Nicknames for Rio
Rio is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Rio
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.