River — Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

River is a unisex name of English origin, meaning "a flowing stream".

Style & feel. With nature and unisex on its style card, River sits comfortably in the modern naming landscape — familiar enough that nobody misreads it, distinctive enough that your child won't share it with three classmates. At 2 syllables, it flows across most middle-name combinations and survives every life stage from playground to résumé.

Pairing ideas. River pairs naturally with one- and two-syllable middles (Ocean, Cove share its sound-world). If you like River, you'll probably also love Ocean, Cove, Brooks — same era, same energy, same bone structure.