[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all, [name_f]Every[/name_f] time I mention using the name [name_m]Riviera[/name_m] people always start hating on it but as soon as I mention that it has a special meaning to us they seem to think its fine to use it. I love the name [name_m]Riviera[/name_m] for a boy and he’d be nicknamed [name_u]River[/name_u]. What do you think about using it?
If you love it and it has a special meaning, just use it.
But I like [name_u]River[/name_u] so much better. Can you just use [name_u]River[/name_u] and honor [name_m]Riviera[/name_m]?
I think it would make a fantastic middle name. It could be a problem as a first name, especially since [name_m]Riviera[/name_m] is a feminine word. But I think if the meaning is special you could pull it off —*and he could always go by [name_u]River[/name_u] if he wanted a more common name.
It’s an overtly feminine sounding word. Honestly, i would just use [name_u]River[/name_u] and know in your heart where it came from.
I met a little girl named [name_m]Riviera[/name_m] and I thought it was pretty obnoxious, tbh. And that was only after ten minutes of calling her that. I don’t to offend because I know the name has personal meaning to you… I’m always in favor of names with meaning, but I think this is either better left as a middle or just use the name [name_u]River[/name_u] to honor the riviera. Everyone you meet isn’t going to see the special meaning behind it, they’re just going to hear the name, and since it sounds like the reactions you get are mostly negative, I’d use it cautiously. [name_m]Just[/name_m] my two cents.
I see how the a-ending makes it seem feminine but honestly, how is it any different than [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] or [name_u]Noah[/name_u] then? And a lot of Italian male names end with a, like [name_u]Andrea[/name_u] and [name_u]Nicola[/name_u]. Think of it like a unisex name, maybe you’ll have to correct people, but who cares? It’s great!
The word “riviera” is a feminine word (noun, feminine, singular), it isn’t a name like [name_m]Ezra[/name_m], or [name_u]Luca[/name_u].
To the OP, if you want to use [name_m]Riviera[/name_m], go for it. It just may be problematic if you know people who speak [name_m]French[/name_m] or your kid ever goes to [name_f]France[/name_f]… I guess if he goes by [name_u]River[/name_u] it won’t be an issue, but why not just name him [name_u]River[/name_u] if that’s what you’re planning on calling him anyway?
Personally, I am not a fan of using foreign words as English names when the grammar doesn’t make sense (I feel the same about things like [name_f]Soleil[/name_f] on a girl), so [name_m]Riviera[/name_m] isn’t my cup of tea, sorry. If it has meaning to you, though, and you’ll be sad if you don’t use it, it’s your baby and your decision. You can’t please everybody, least of all strangers on the internet 
Well, it reminds me of Rivera which is a common surname in where I live. I think it’s okay to use and don’t see a negative association.