River is the English word for a flowing body of water and as a name means simply "river", chosen for its calm, free-spirited feel. Actor River Phoenix brought it to the public in the 1980s, and it has since become one of the most popular nature names for boys. River ranked number 612 in 2000 and number 244 in 2015, peaked at number 105 in 2022 and stands at number 111 in 2025.