Given name & surname
Rio
“woman of the river”·“from the river”
Rio is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “woman of the river” (Spanish) and “from the river” (Spanish). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “woman of the river” (Spanish) and “from the river” (Spanish). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Spanish.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1920. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Rio through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,812
- 5,530 boys · 2,282 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 704 babies
- 2025
- 668
- #532 for boys · #1,877 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +139%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 79% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 563 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 532 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 177.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 105 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (116). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,560 as a first name in 2020; 1,650 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Rio’s family of names
Rio has a related form in Ryo. Rio has a related form in Reo. Rio has a related form in Reyo.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Rio
- Rio FerdinandEnglish association football player (born 1978)
- Rio MavubaFrench footballer (born 1984)
- Rio NgumohaEnglish association football player (born 2008)
- Rio OmoriJapanese association football playerborn 2002
- Rio UchidaJapanese model, fashion model and actressborn 1991
- Rio NatsukiJapanese voice actressborn 1969
- Rio SuzukiJapanese actress, voice actor, talent, singer (2005-)
- Rio ManginiAmerican film actor, actor and pianistborn 2002
- Rio KitagawaJapanese announcer and former idolborn 2004
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Rio, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Arlo
“from the barberry tree”
96% boys · 4% girls
Itsasne
“of the sea”
—
Rowen
“of the red-berry tree”
77% boys · 23% girls
Ford
“from the water” · “from the river crossing”
>99% boys
Jett
“resembling the jet-black lustrous gemstone”
98% boys · 2% girls
Hudson
“one who is adventurous; an explorer” · “the son of Hugh; from the river”
99% boys · 1% girls
Usher
“from the mouth of the river” · “from. the mouth of the river”
>99% boys
Woods
“a woman of the forest” · “a man of the forest”
98% boys · 2% girls