This name has two distinctive associations: the Southwestern natural formation of a gully or stream, and the Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo.

Arroyo

Like River and Lake, a cool, refreshing modern water-related choice. 

A slow and sultry southern choice that's definitely cool for babies of either gender. 

Bayou

The popular single-named alternative singer (born Bek) has given this cool nature-meets-surname name a new lease of life. Another notable bearer is Beck Weathers, a Texan pathologist who survived the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, which was covered in the book and film Into Thin Air.

 Outdoorsy yet refined, Beck still sits below the radar but could follow brother Beckett up the charts.

Beck

BECKs

Among the coolest of the cool color names, particularly popular with celebs as a unisex middle name. 

Blue

Now that the popularity of Brooke is waning, and surname style variant Brooks is on the rise, Brook seems live a newly fresh nature-inspired option.

Brook

A nature name, a word name, and a surname name, Brooks has plenty of cool factor. It gives off cowboy vibes and a sporty feel, while also maintaining a smart, collected image. 
Used occasionally as a given name throughout the 20th century, Brooks gained serious attention during the 2010’s. Following fast on the heels of stylish Kai and classic Jack, Brooks is now in the US Top 100. 
Derived from the English surname Brook, meaning “one who lives near the steam”, Brooks could appeal to anyone who wants an outdoorsy <a href=“https://nameberry.com/list/756/best-nature-names-for-boys”> name connected to nature</a> and to those enjoy the sleek, smart trend of <a href=“https://nameberry.com/list/358/surname-baby-names”>surnames as first names.</a> 
While it might feel very contemporary, Brooks has made its mark on history. Brooks Calbert Robinson played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977 and is considered one of the greatest third basemen ever. Other notable namesakes include: Brooks Atkinson an influential theatre critic; Brooks Betts, the guitarist of rock band “Mayday Parade”;E. B White, the author of Charlotte’s Web, who was born Elwyn Brooks; and Brooks Harris, a physicist. 
With a more masculine slant than Brooke or Brooklyn, Brooks is given to over 4000 boys each year. It could be set to rise higher in the charts over the coming years, so if you enjoy the cool, surname-y style, you could also consider Boone, Wilder, Mack, Adair, Boyd, and Briggs as less popular alternatives.

Brooks

Burn

Barranca 

Basin

Bight

Billabong

Did you really mean to name your child Channel, as in the body of water?  Like, you know, the English Channel?  Or were you going for the last name of the French designer Chanel, with a soft "sh" sound at the beginning and the emphasis on the last syllable?  If so, we recommend sticking with the Chanel spelling.

Channel

Cove is an up-and-coming nature name whose cool sound and peaceful image saw it rising for both sexes... until COVID-19 hit. It remained steady in use for boys in 2021, but actually increased for girls, although it remains a seriously rare and distinctive choice for either gender. 

Cove

Canal

Creek

Delta is an unusual vintage option with a lazy-day-down-by-the-river feel. Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet and also the geographical name given to an island formed at the mouth of a river. 

 Australian singer Delta Goodrem is a notable modern bearer.

Delta

Draw

Estuary

Highly unusual water name -- and actor Colin surname -- with a Scottish burr.  Firth derives from the Old Norse word fjord.

Firth

Fjord

Flume 

Gill

Inlet

Inver 

Evocative modern unisex choice brought into the spotlight by actress Lake Bell. 

Lake

Loch is a watery word that sounds more like a name because it's one step removed from its English form. Pronounced as "lock," it's also a short form of the variously-spelled Lachlan.

Loch

Lough

Soft and mellifluous nature-surname name, situated miles away from the dated Marshall. 

Marsh

Mere

Moat

Nature names like Ocean and River are flowing back into favor, especially with nature lovers and green-oriented parents. 
 Forest Whitaker, an inspired child namer (his other kids are called Sonnet and True), has a son named Ocean Alexander.
 Variations include Oceanus, the name of the child who was born during the voyage of the Mayflower, and Oceane, a wildly popular girls' name in France.

Ocean

Pond

Pool

Puddle

Rivage

River shares the tranquil feeling of all the water names, and seems to have pretty much escaped its past strong association with River Phoenix and his unfortunate fate. Actor Joaquin Phoenix named his son with actress Rooney Mara after his brother River.

River's popularity is rising for boy genders, but it's still predominantly given to baby boys. Last year nearly 3500 boys were named River vs. about 1900 baby girls.

Keri Russell and the Taylor Hansons both have sons named River, Natasha Henstridge used it as the middle name of her boy Tristan, and Jason Schwartzman pluralized it for daughter Marlowe Rivers.

River

The name Rivers combines two major trends: nature names like the popular River itself, and S-ending surname-names such as Brooks, Rhodes, and yes, Rivers.

Rivers is most notable as a first name via Weezers frontman Rivers Cuomo.

Rivers

Rill

Rivulet

Runnel 

Spring doesn't sound half as contemporary as Winter, which has become the cool season name. 

Spring

Strait

Stream

Tarn

Vana's list "Bodies of Water: Lake, River and Brook" of 47 great name ideas: Arroyo - Tarn!