# Rivera (surname)

Rivera is a surname of Spanish, Portuguese and Italian origin which was the old spelling of ribera, the Spanish word for "riverbank".

## People with the surname

* Adrienne Rivera, American para-alpine skier
* Albert Rivera (born 1979), Spanish former politician
* Alberto Rivera (activist) (1935–1997), anti-Catholic religious activist
* Alberto Rivera Pizarro (born 1978), Spanish retired footballer
* Alexis Marie Rivera (1977–2012), American transgender advocate
* Alicia Herrera Rivera (1928–2013), Chilean feminist lawyer
* Amaad Rivera-Wagner (born 1981), American politician
* Andy Rivera (born 1994), Colombian singer-songwriter
* Angélica Rivera (born 1969), Mexican actress and model
* Aníbal Meléndez Rivera (1948–2021), Puerto Rican politician
* Antonio Rivera (1963–2005), Puerto Rican boxer
* Ariel Rivera (born 1966), Filipino actor and singer
* Arturo Rivera (1945–2020), Mexican artist
* Belarmino Rivera (born 1956), Honduran retired football player
* Brent Rivera (born 1998), American social media personality and actor
* Carlos Rivera (born 1986), Mexican singer
* Carlos Rivera (disambiguation), multiple people
* Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez (born 1977), Spanish bullfighter
* Chiquis Rivera (born 1985), American singer and television personality
* Chita Rivera (1933–2024), American actress and dancer
* Coryn Rivera (born 1992), American racing cyclist
* Danny Rivera (born 1945), Puerto Rican singer-songwriter
* David Rivera (born 1965), American politician
* David Rodríguez Rivera, Salvadoran priest and politician
* Diego Rivera (1886–1957), Mexican muralist
* Doriana Rivera (born 1977), Peruvian retired badminton player
* Eliu Rivera (1943–2017), Puerto Rican politician
* Emilio Rivera (born 1961), American actor and stand-up comedian
* Emmanuel Rivera (born 1996), Puerto Rican professional baseball player
* Erica Rivera (born 1988), American rapper and actress
* Fernando Rivera y Moncada (1725–1781), Spanish colonial soldier and official in New Spain
* Filiberto Rivera (born 1982), Puerto Rican professional basketball player
* Frances Rivera (born 1970), Filipino-American journalist and news anchor
* Francisco Rivera Ordóñez (born 1974), Spanish bullfighter
* Francisco Rivera Pérez (1948–1984), Spanish bullfighter
* Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854), 1st Constitutional President of Uruguay
* Gabriel Rivera (1961–2018), American professional footballer
* Geraldo Rivera (born 1943), American journalist, attorney, author, political commentator
* Gianni Rivera (born 1943), Italian politician and former footballer
* Graciela Rivera (1921–2011), Puerto Rican singer
* Guillermo Rivera (born 1969), Salvadoran retired professional footballer
* Guillermo Rivera Aránguiz (born 1989), Chilean former professional tennis player
* Ingrid Marie Rivera (born 1983), Puerto Rican actress, model, 2nd runner-up of Miss World 2005
* Ismael Rivera (1931–1987), Puerto Rican composer and singer
* Ismael Rivera (archer) (born 1951), Puerto Rican archer
* James Rivera (born 1960), American singer
* Jamie Rivera (born 1966), Filipino singer
* Jenni Rivera (1969–2012), Mexican singer-songwriter
* Jerry Rivera (born 1973), Puerto Rican singer-songwriter
* Jim Rivera (1921–2017), American professional baseball player
* Jimmie Rivera (born 1989), American professional MMA fighter
* Joel Rivera (born 1978), American politician
* John Rivera (better known as Rocky Romero, born 1982), Cuban-American professional wrestler
* Jorge Rivera (fighter) (born 1972), American retired MMA fighter
* Jorge Rivera (basketball) (born 1973), Puerto Rican former basketball player
* Jose Rivera (politician) (born 1936), American former politician
* José Rivera (playwright) (born 1955), Puerto Rican playwright and screenwriter
* José Antonio Rivera (born 1973), American professional boxer
* José Eustasio Rivera (1888–1928), Colombian lawyer and author
* José Rivera (volleyball) (born 1977), Puerto Rican volleyball player
* Jose Luis Rivera (born 1960), Puerto Rican retired professional wrestler
* Jovette Rivera (born 1982), American musician
* Juan Rivera (disambiguation), multiple people
* Leonor Rivera (1867–1893), lover of the Philippine national hero Jose Rizal
* Lionel Rivera (born 1956), American politician
* Luis Antonio Rivera (1930–2023), Puerto Rican actor, television personality, comedian
* Luis Rivera (disambiguation), multiple people
* Lupillo Rivera (born 1972), Mexican-American singer-songwriter
* Mailon Rivera (born 1969), American actor
* Marco Rivera (born 1972), American former professional footballer
* María Antonia Rivera (born 1966), 3rd Vice President of Honduras
* Marian Rivera (born 1984), Filipino actress, television host, model
* Mariano Rivera (born 1969), Panamanian-American former professional baseball player
* Marika Rivera (1919–2010), French actress
* Mark Rivera (born 1953), American musician
* Maura Rivera (born 1984), Chilean dancer and television performer
* Mayra Rivera (born 1968), Puerto Rican religious scholar
* Mike Rivera (baseball) (born 1976), Puerto Rican former professional baseball player
* Mike Rivera (American football) (born 1986), American former professional footballer
* Miriam Rivera (1981–2019), Mexican model and actress
* Mon Rivera, two distinct Puerto Rican musicians
* Mychal Rivera (born 1990), American former professional footballer
* Naomi Rivera (born 1963), American former politician
* Naya Rivera (1987–2020), American actress, singer, model
* Nick Rivera Caminero (stage name Nicky Jam, born 1981), American singer
* Norberto Rivera Carrera (born 1942), Mexican cardinal
* Oscar López Rivera (born 1943), Puerto Rican activist and militant
* Pedro Ignacio Rivera (1759–1833), Bolivian statesman and lawyer
* Peter M. Rivera (born 1946), American politician
* Prisilla Rivera (born 1984), Dominican volleyball player
* Reinaldo Rivera (born 1963), Spanish-born American serial killer
* René Rivera (born 1983), Puerto Rican former professional baseball player
* Robbie Rivera (born 1973), Puerto Rican house music producer and DJ
* Ron Rivera (born 1962), American professional football coach and former player
* Ron Rivera (public health) (1948–2008), Puerto Rican-American activist and relief worker
* Rubén Rivera (born 1973), Panamanian former professional baseball player
* Ruth Rivera Marín (1927–1969), Mexican architect
* Salvador Guerra Rivera (born 2002), Spanish chess player
* Sandy Rivera (born 1971), American record producer, house music DJ, label owner
* Saúl Rivera (born 1977), Puerto Rican former professional baseball player
* Scarlet Rivera (born 1950), American violinist
* Sophie Rivera (1938–2021), Puerto Rican-American artist and photographer
* Susana Rivera-Mills, Salvadoran sociolinguist and academic administrator
* Sylvia Rivera (1951–2002), American transgender activist
* Tammy Rivera (born 1986), American television personality, singer, fashion designer, businesswoman
* Temario Rivera (1946/1947–2024), Filipino educator and political scientist
* Teresa Rivera (born 1966), Mexican former swimmer
* Tomás Rivera (1935–1984), Mexican American author, poet, educator
* Tomás Rivera Morales (1927–2001), Puerto Rican musician
* Victor Rivera (bishop) (1916–2005), Puerto Rican Episcopalian bishop
* Víctor Rivera (judoka) (born 1965), Puerto Rican judoka
* Victor Rivera (wrestler) (born 1944), Puerto Rican retired professional wrestler
* Víctor Rivera (football manager) (born 1968), Peruvian football manager
* Víctor Rivera (volleyball) (born 1976), Puerto Rican volleyball player
* Víctor Hugo Rivera (born 1967), Peruvian football referee
* Zuleyka Rivera (born 1987), Puerto Rican actress, model, Miss Universe 2006

### Variants of the surname

Variants of the surname include "de Rivera" and "D'Rivera".
* Alice de Rivera (born 1955 or 1956), American physician and women's rights activist
* Belle de Rivera (1848-1943), American clubwoman
* José Antonio Primo de Rivera, Spanish politician
* Miguel Primo de Rivera, Spanish dictator
* Paquito D'Rivera, Cuban musician

### Fictional characters

* Alicia Rivera, The Clique
* Eugene Rivera, Oz
* Eduardo Rivera, Extreme Ghostbusters
* Emery Rivera, Daybreak
* Manny Rivera, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera
* Rivera clan: Hector, Imelda, Miguel, Socorro (Coco), et al.; Coco (2017 film)

## People with the given name

Rivera is uncommon as a given name or middle name.
* José Rivera Indarte (1814–1845), Argentine poet and journalist