Cruz or Rio?

glitterina · March 2009

I like both of these names for a boy. My husband is latin and I wanted something that would go with our last name Gonzales. ?Any help would be greatly appreciated!?

franciscaz · March 2009

I grew up on the border w/Mexico and in a hispanic family (my DH lived two yrs in Mexico City and he agrees) and I HAVE NEVER heard Rio (except when speaking about rivers or Brazil)!!!!!! That is a little too far out for me.

I had two good friends named Cruz (both girls) and knew many other girls w/the name Cruz. It is a very common last name as well but neither of us have heard it for a boy. This is something you want to consider b/c if it is a girls name and you are raising your son in a Hispanic prominent area he will be teased mercilessly.

This is a great resource if you want to go Hispanic:

Top Hispanic Baby Names, With 2005 U.S. Rank

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Boy's Names	Girl's Names
Popularity	Boy's Names	Rank	Girl's Names	Rank


1	Jose	30	Maria	47



2	Angel	32	Sofia	52



3	Juan	55	Isabel	89



4	Diego	62	Adriana	121



5	Carlos	70	Daniela	122



6	Jesus	73	Valeria	137



7	Xavier	87	Angel	147



8	Antonio	92	Mariana	166



9	Miguel	94	Juliana	173



10	Alejandro	97	Liliana	191



11	Jorge	118	Adrianna	196



12	Eduardo	129	Camila	201



13	Cristian	141	Esmeralda	213



14	Francisco	142	Alejandra	220



15	Ricardo	157	Amaya	225



16	Cesar	163	Selena	242



17	Javier	164	Clara	246



18	Fernando	169	Guadalupe	254



19	Mario	179	Cecilia	279



20	Leonardo	186	Estrella	295



21	Marco	189	Eliana	305



22	Josue	196	Paola	306



23	Sergio	197	Marisol	341



24	Roberto	204	Ximena	354



25	Pedro	217	Perla	364



26	Julio	227	Lucia	366



27	Rafael	230	Mercedes	383



28	Marcos	245	Jimena	386



29	Raul	248	Marisa	391



30	Armando	252	Yesenia	393



31	Angelo	257	Fernanda	394



32	Enrique	264	Maritza	403



33	Emilio	276	Marina	411



34	Santiago	278	Viviana	426



	Pablo	284	Emilia	434

Since you are looking for a unique name I love Xavier!

LMS05 · March 2009

I have a friend that is El Salvadorian and she's naming her son Rio. I actually kinda like it with your last name. I would never use it.?

*Bre* · March 2009

I love Rio especially with the surname. "River" is a boys' name in English, so why not?

Pathrell · March 2009

Personally, I would assume that Rio is a girl... Duran Duran's "Rio" influences that. I've heard of males named Cruz, so its not all that farout for me

*Bre* · March 2009

I know a Rio in real life that is a boy. I don't think the Duran Duran song will be relevant by the time her LO is old enough for it to matter.

KittenGator · March 2009

I think the name Rio is great!?

nybor1975 · March 2009

Pathrell:
Personally, I would assume that Rio is a girl... Duran Duran's "Rio" influences that. I've heard of males named Cruz, so its not all that farout for me

Sorry, Duran Duran is what I thought of.

monkey62 · March 2009

Both are bad first names, IMO

thaira · March 2009

love love love Cruz!!!

whynotnow · March 2009

Of the two, I prefer Rio for a boy. I also think Cruz would be pretty for a girl.

anna7602 · March 2009

I'm with Francisca on this one re: Rio. I also come from a Hispanic family, have lived in Spanish-speaking countries, etc. and the name Rio just sounds odd. In my experience, the only "place/nature" names that are really used in Spanish have to do with Saints or Virgins. Like "Nieves," snow, is for "Nuestra Senora de las Nieves," etc. If you can find a St. so-and-so of the Rio, great, but if not, it just sounds made up to me.

There's nothing wrong with making up a name, per se, but if your goal is to find something that honors your husband's heritage, I would probably go the more traditional route.