National River Day 2023: Date, History and Facts

National River Day is observed annually on February 2 to honour all of the world’s rivers. Although the word ‘river’ conjures up images of a body of water, it is also an uncommon baby name. In recent years, River has gained in popularity. River The late actor Jude Phoenix was a notable namesake, and his famous brother Joaquin Phoenix named his son River after him.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL RIVER DAY

The gender-neutral English name River means “Stream of water that flows into the sea.” It comes from the Latin word ripa, which means “riverbank.” A river is “a naturally flowing watercourse that flows to an ocean, sea, lake, or another river, and is typically freshwater.” In some cases, a river may flow into the ground and dry up before reaching another water source. Small rivers are referred to using the terms creeks, rivulets, brooks, streams, and rills.

When ‘Riparius’ was corrupted into Old French as ‘riviere,’ it came to refer to both the river and the bank. The Normans brought the word to England, where it was shortened to ‘rivere’ and eventually evolved into the modern word ‘river’. The Riviera and other similar coastal locations allude to the word’s original meaning.

In the 1970s, a few infants were given the name River. Alongside Summer and Rain, Liberty, and Freedom, it was a counterculture moniker. In fact, the Phoenixes gave their son the name River. River Phoenix, who was born in 1970, rose to fame after starring in “Stand by Me” in 1986. By the time he passed away in 1993, his roles in “Running On Empty” and “My Own Private Idaho” had already earned him an Oscar nomination and a number of other accolades.

FIVE FACTS REGARDING THE NAME RIVER

• River debuted at position 927 in the 1994 U.S. popularity rankings with 12 girls and 141 boys.
• In 1998, River was the 496th most popular baby name.
• Tam, a female genius and lethal assassin, appeared in “Serenity” (2005).
• In 2009, River was ranked #955 among the “Top 1000 Girls’ Names.”
• In the 2008 season of “Doctor Who,” the mysterious character River Song was introduced.

NATIONAL RIVER DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	February 2	Thursday
2024	February 2	Friday
2025	February 2	Sunday
2026	February 2	Monday
2027	February 2	Tuesday