Fun Facts About the Name Riven
- 513 babies named Riven: U.S. records list 513 babies given the name Riven from 1880 through 2025. Even 201 girls received the name Riven - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.
What Does the Name Riven Mean?
Riven is an English word name meaning "split apart" or "torn asunder." It is the past participle of the verb rive, which descends from Old English rīfan, "to tear, split, or pull apart," from the Proto-Germanic root *rīfaną. Old Norse had a matching verb, rífa, with the same sense. The participle is built like other strong verbs in English, as in drive/driven and write/written. Its literal sense is something cut or broken by force; its figurative sense is a person or group divided or deeply distressed.
Riven Name History & Origins
The verb rīfan is recorded in Old English, and the past participle riven continued through Middle English into modern English. Old Norse rífa, carried by Scandinavian settlers, reinforced the verb in northern England and Scotland, where rive and riven stayed common in Scots. The participial form settled into standard English and remains familiar in older writing, where it usually describes something violently split.
As a personal name, Riven is a recent use of the English vocabulary word rather than a name inherited from an older naming tradition. It belongs to the modern habit of taking ordinary words as given names, and it is uncommon; it appears mainly in English-speaking countries. The name has been used for characters and titles in fantasy and games, such as the 1997 adventure game Riven and the champion Riven in League of Legends, but these are later uses of the word-name, not its source.
How Popular is the Name Riven?
Riven has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #2,414 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,246 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #5,558 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2023 | #6,114 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #5,433 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2021 | #6,629 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #7,881 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #6,647 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2018 | #9,044 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #9,238 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #8,775 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #11,654 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #10,782 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #11,781 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #16,451 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,414 | 57 | 0.0033% |
| 2024 | #3,752 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2023 | #2,470 | 55 | 0.0032% |
| 2022 | #3,519 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2021 | #3,230 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2020 | #6,947 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2019 | #5,742 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #6,629 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #13,837 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #8,670 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #7,423 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #9,441 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #10,496 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #11,957 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #10,525 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #12,256 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Riven Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Riven's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Riven's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.