Rio is a moderately popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #157 in 2023 with 338 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2011 with 359 births ranking #160. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 3,655.6%. In 2023, approximately 1 in every 818 boys born was named Rio. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Rio means "river" in Spanish and Portuguese, which is the clearest meaning Behind the Name gives for the broad modern use of the name. It is short, vivid and strongly place-and-nature based.
The name is used across more than one culture, and Behind the Name also lists a separate Japanese entry. Because of that, the safest description is that Rio often follows the Spanish or Portuguese word-name route but can have other origins too.