I need your creativity!

Girl Names
1

Alright Berries, I need your creativity!
I absolutely love the name [name_u]Rio[/name_u]. There are many names I love, but for some reason I always come back to [name_u]Rio[/name_u]. I like it on both boys and girls, but especially love it on a girl. But I worry she’d be mistaken for a boy if [name_u]Rio[/name_u] was her full name. But we can’t find a full name we love that leads to [name_u]Rio[/name_u] as a nickname.

We’ve talked about [name_f]Oriana[/name_f] and [name_f]Catriona[/name_f] but our surname is really long and we’ve decided that 4+ syllables would just be too annoying for her, so 3 syllables is the limit. We’ve also talked about [name_f]Riona[/name_f] and [name_f]Bryony[/name_f] but we’re not too fond of them, and I feel like with [name_u]River[/name_u] she’d have the same problem of being mistaken for a boy.

So berries, what full names could we use to get to the nickname [name_u]Rio[/name_u]? Or are my fears unfounded and we should use [name_u]Rio[/name_u] as the full name?

Thank you! :smiley:

2

[name_u]Rio[/name_u] sounds fine to me as a standalone name for a girl. In Spanish it’s a masculine word, so I can see why some people might interpret it as a boy’s name, but otherwise it’s so unusual, I don’t think the majority of people will have many preconceived notions about [name_u]Rio[/name_u] before they meet her. I don’t really see the point in picking out a longer name that you don’t necessarily love just to get to a nickname, especially if you never actually plan to call her by the longer name.

3

I’ve actually met a darling little girl named [name_u]Rio[/name_u]. It was adorable on her, and so I know it can definitely work as a standalone name. People might see the name on paper and assume she is a boy, but honestly, with so many unisex names now, I don’t think it’s a big deal. Once they meet her it shouldn’t be a problem at all, so if you love it the most as a full name, I say go for it!

4

While I don’t think it’s unusable as a full name, it does feel like a nickname to me.

Here’s some suggestions:
[name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f]
[name_u]Rosario[/name_u]
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f] could even work
[name_f]Riona[/name_f]/Rionah
[name_f]Eliora[/name_f]
[name_f]Majorie[/name_f]

But of course,if you are in love with the full name [name_u]Rio[/name_u] then go for it! It is all about what name you love and want to use.

5

[name_u]Rosario[/name_u] is a wonderful suggestion and the only one that screams the nickname [name_u]Rio[/name_u] to me.

6

I think if you give her an established girl middle name you don’t need to worry about people mistaking her for a boy, since names on paper usually include middle names.

7

I love the suggestions of Rosario and Rhiannon. I think Toby and Rhiannon “Rio” sound fantastic together!

For what it’s worth, Catriona is really meant to be said with three syllables, similar to “Catrina” - the O is such a slight sound, it really hides away in the name. I think Catriona “Rio” would work well, especially if she’s going by Rio most of the time and you don’t have to worry about too many syllables.

Ostara, Inara, Ember, Alba, Safira, Winter, Delilah, Freya, Summer, Matilda, Willow, Oriana, Evie, Marguerite

Edi: I see your son has two middle names. Have you ever considered making the initials RIO? You already have Ostara, Inara, and Oriana on your list.

Roxanne
Rosalie
Rowena
Ramona

Iris
Ingrid
Isabelle
Indira

Opal
Ondine
Ophelia
Octavia

I love the idea of Rosalie Inara Opal or Roxanne Iris Ostara. Really any of them!

Also, have you considered names that mean “river” or have connection to rivers? Names like Lorelei, Sabrina, or Alma?

8

I think [name_f]Brionna[/name_f] and [name_u]Marion[/name_u] would work as well

9

According to this [name_u]Rio[/name_u] is actually a Japanese Girls name.

I think [name_u]Rio[/name_u] is cute. And could totally stand alone as a full name for a girl or boy.
I mean people name their children [name_u]Milan[/name_u], [name_u]London[/name_u], [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u] etc why not [name_u]Rio[/name_u]?

I think this is such an excellent suggestion if you can find an R name that you love.

Also… [name_u]Rio[/name_u] means [name_u]River[/name_u] in Spanish and Portuguese.

  • You could name a daughter or son for that matter [name_u]River[/name_u] w/ nn [name_u]Rio[/name_u]. (Or you could use the name of any other river or river related thing…
  • If you like the City [name_u]Rio[/name_u] de Janeiro ([name_u]River[/name_u] of [name_u]January[/name_u]) the name [name_u]January[/name_u] w/ nn [name_u]Rio[/name_u] might work.
    A little out there but logical enough once explained).
10

I don’t think there’s a problem if you want to use [name_u]Rio[/name_u] as a first name, but I do love the suggestion of [name_u]Rosario[/name_u]. It’s a beautiful name and it’s one of the few suggestions where the nickname actually works. [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] would be my next favorite.

11

Abrionna
[name_f]Oriole[/name_f]

12

I think [name_u]Rio[/name_u] as a full name is perfectly fine, and cute. I can definitely picture a cute little girl [name_u]Rio[/name_u]. In the US anyway I think it’s unusual enough that no one would assume boy or girl. I vote, use [name_u]Rio[/name_u]!

13

You could use:

[name_f]Corrine[/name_f]/[name_f]Corrina[/name_f]
[name_f]Malorie[/name_f]
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f]
[name_f]Marisol[/name_f]
[name_f]Rihanna[/name_f]
[name_m]Riviera[/name_m]

14

The suggestions of [name_f]Oriole[/name_f] and [name_f]Marisol[/name_f] are great ways to get to nn [name_u]Rio[/name_u]- I would also like to throw [name_f]Rialta[/name_f] into the mix. [name_u]Rio[/name_u] and [name_f]Rialta[/name_f] even share a meaning- “river” and “deep brook”