ðə nˈeɪm kʊd ˈɔːlsoʊ biː fɹʌm ælɡˈɑːŋkwiən hˈiə mˈʌskɛɡ, ɪt mˈiːnz "ɹˈɪvɚɹ ʌvðə sævˈænəz" ɔːɹ "ɹˈɪvɚ wɪð mˈʌdi wˈɔːɾɚz".
The name could also be from Algonquian hia muskeg, it means "river of the savannas" or "river with muddy waters".