Rihanna has shared that American pop star Pharrell Williams inspired her to name her youngest son Riot.
The Fenty Beauty founder discussed her personal life details in Harper’s Bazaar’s March 2025 cover story.
Rihanna, who shares two sons, RZA and Riot, with A$AP Rocky, revealed that her boyfriend and Pharrell collaborated on a track titled “Riot” in 2023, which influenced her decision to name her younger son after it.
The 37-year-old singer-turned-businesswoman stated, “He gave us this name thinking it was going to be a girl because he had seen something online. Pharrell is very deep. He’s not surface-level.”
She added, “He never just says something and leaves it at that. He will always give you the full history: the energy, the time, the month, everything.”
The renowned musician also spoke about the obedient nature of her eldest son, saying, “RZA is just an empath. He’s so magical. He loves music, melody, books, water—bath time, swimming, the pool, the beach, everything.”
“And Riot? He’s just hilarious! When he wakes up, he starts squealing and screaming—not in a crying way. He just wants to sing. And I’m like, ‘Okay, here we go!'” Rihanna said with a smile.
For those unaware, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky welcomed their first son, RZA, in May 2022, and their second son, Riot, was born in August 2023.
