What does Sawyer mean?
An English occupational surname, “one who saws wood.”
What does River mean?
An English nature name taken directly from the word 'river' (ultimately from Latin riparia, riparius 'of the riverbank').
Sawyer vs River
Which is more popular?
River is more popular than Sawyer today: about 3,139 US babies were given the name River in 2025, compared with 2,941 named Sawyer.
| Sawyer | River | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Woodcutter | River |
| Origin | English | english |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | SOY-er | RIV-er |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1913 | 1971 |
| Peak year | 2015 (4,272) | 2021 (3,504) |
| In 2025 | 2,941 | 3,139 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Sawyer
River
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Sawyer | River |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17,914 | 19,236 |
| 2010s | 34,031 | 13,860 |
| 2000s | 10,153 | 4,449 |
| 1990s | 3,453 | 2,023 |
| 1980s | 275 | 82 |
| 1970s | 5 | 26 |
| 1910s | 7 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sawyer or River more popular?
River is more popular than Sawyer today: about 3,139 US babies were given the name River in 2025, compared with 2,941 named Sawyer.
What is the difference between Sawyer and River?
Sawyer means Woodcutter (English origin), while River means River (english origin).
Which name is older, Sawyer or River?
In US records, Sawyer first appears in 1913 and River in 1971, so Sawyer has the longer recorded history.