Rivera (disambiguation) facts for kids

Rivera is a surname that comes from Spain. It used to be spelled ribera, which is the Spanish word for “riverbank”. So, the name basically means "someone from the riverbank."

Famous People Named Rivera

Many people around the world share the surname Rivera. Here are some well-known individuals:

Artists and Entertainers

• Chita Rivera (born 1933) is a famous American actress and dancer. She is known for her amazing performances in Broadway musicals.
• Danny Rivera (born 1945) is a popular singer. He is known for his beautiful voice and songs.
• Diego Rivera (1886–1957) was a very important Mexican artist. He is famous for his large wall paintings, called murals, which often showed scenes from Mexican history and daily life.
• Erica Rivera (born 1988) is an American actress and singer.
• Geraldo Rivera (born 1943) is a well-known American journalist and TV personality.
• Ismael Rivera (1931–1987) was a famous composer and singer of salsa music. He was known as "El Sonero Mayor."
• Jamie Rivera is a Filipino singer, often called the "Christian music diva."
• Jenni Rivera (1969–2012) was a very popular Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was known for her powerful voice in banda and mariachi music.
• Jerry Rivera (born 1973) is a salsa singer from Puerto Rico.
• José Ariel Jimenez Rivera (born 1966) is an actor, singer, and songwriter.
• Marian Rivera (born 1984) is a popular Filipino actress and model.
• Robbie Rivera is a Puerto Rican house music producer and DJ.
• Scarlet Rivera is an American violinist, known for her work with famous musicians.

Athletes

• Filiberto Rivera (born 1983) is a basketball player.
• Gianni Rivera (born 1943) is a legendary Italian football (soccer) player.
• Guillermo Rivera (born 1975) is a baseball player.
• Jim Rivera (born 1922) was a baseball player.
• Juan Luis Rivera (born 1978) is a baseball player.
• Mariano Rivera (born 1969) is a famous baseball pitcher from Panama. He is considered one of the greatest closers in baseball history.
• Marco Anthony Rivera (born 1972) was an NFL (American football) player.
• Mike Rivera (born 1976) is a baseball player.
• René Rivera (born 1983) is a baseball player.
• Ronald Eugene Rivera (born 1962) is a former NFL player and now a football coach.
• Rubén Rivera (born 1973) is a baseball player.
• Saúl Rivera (born 1977) is a baseball player.

Other Notable Individuals

• Albert Rivera (born 1979) is a politician.
• Fructuoso Rivera (c. 1789–1854) was an important Uruguayan politician and military leader. He was the first President of Uruguay.
• José Eustasio Rivera (1888–1928) was a Colombian writer.
• Juan Maria Antonio Rivera was an 18th-century Spanish explorer.
• Sylvia Rae Rivera (1951–2002) was an American activist who worked for the rights of transgender people.
• Tomás Rivera (1935–1984) was a Chicano author, poet, and educator.

Name Variations

Some people with the surname Rivera have it as part of a longer name or with a different spelling:

• Carlos Rivera Guerra (born 1986) is a singer.
• Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza (born 1987) was Miss Puerto Rico Universe and Miss Universe 2006.
• Alberto Rivera Pizarro is a Spanish football (soccer) player.

Places Named Rivera

Several places around the world are named Rivera:

• Rivera Department, a region in Uruguay.
  • Rivera, Uruguay is the capital city of that department.
• Rivera, Huila, a town in Colombia.
• Rivera, Switzerland, a municipality in Switzerland.
• Pico Rivera, California, a city in the United States.
• Rivera, Buenos Aires, a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.

See also

In Spanish: Rivera para niños