The first name Rio
A unisex name.
Pronounced /ˈɹioʊ/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
A male given name.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 305 boys were named Rio, making it the 166th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2011, with 359 births (#160).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Rio with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Rio at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 563 boys born in the United States were named Rio, the 532nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2024, when 593 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Rio
5 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Rio FerdinandEnglish association football player (born 1978)
- Rio MavubaFrench footballer (born 1984)
- Rio NgumohaEnglish association football player (born 2008)
- Rio ManginiAmerican film actor, actor and pianist, born 2002
- Rio MitchamBritish athlete, born 1999
Questions
- How popular is the name Rio?
- In 2025, 305 boys born in England and Wales were named Rio, ranking 166th. Its peak was 2011, with 359 births.
- Is Rio a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 7,812 US babies named Rio since 1880, 29% were girls and 71% boys.
- When was Rio most popular?
- 2024 in the United States, when 593 babies were named Rio, its highest rank at 517th.
- How do you pronounce Rio?
- Rio is /ˈɹioʊ/, 2 syllables.
- Is Rio also a surname?
- Yes. Rio is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.