Rio is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #560 in 2022 with 530 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2024 with 591 births ranking #516. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 1,077.8%. In 2022, approximately 1 in every 3,291 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.