Riven is a modern English word name; the adjective riven means "split" or "torn apart", though most parents choose it for its sound, which echoes River and Ryder. The name is also familiar to gamers from the video game Riven, the sequel to Myst, and from a character in League of Legends. Riven has risen from number 7423 in 2015 to number 2414 in 2025, its best US rank so far.