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Joaquin Phoenix And Rooney Mara Name Their Son 'River' In Honor Of Joaquin's Late Brother

Congratulations are in order for one of Hollywood's most low-key couples, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara!

While the pair keeps things low-key they are undeniably one of the most high-key adorable couples in Tinseltown!

The pair have recently welcomed their first child together, a boy named River.

Of course, the name is in tribute to Joaquin's late brother River, who died in 1993.

If you didn't even know that Joaquin and Rooney were together, it's okay! If anything, I think they'd prefer it that way.

The pair have been together since 2016 and have kept their relationship incredibly private.

In 2019, the pair announced they were engaged which was obviously VERY EXCITING!

Chatting with *Vanity Fair* in November last year, Joaquin admitted that Rooney was the first woman he had ever googled.

"She's the only girl I ever looked up on the internet," he explained.

"We were just friends, email friends."

Despite being "just friends," the 45-year-old admitted he couldn't get his future fiancée out of his mind!

"I'd never done that. Never looked up a girl online," he added.

So you're telling me that Academy Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix isn't an Instagram sleuth?

But do you know what's even more exciting than an engagement announcement?! A BABY ANNOUNCEMENT!

Which is exactly what this pair of Hollywood heavy-hitters just gave us!

Well, actually, it's exactly what director Victor Kossakovsky gave us at the 2020 Zurich film festival after a screening of the documentary Gunda, of which Joaquin was an executive producer.

When asked about Joaquin's involvement in the film, Victor spilled the beans and said, "He just got a baby by the way… A beautiful son called River."

Joaquin's brother River died in 1993 of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 23.

What a beautiful way to honor his late brother.

Naturally, fans of both Joaquin and River have been moved by the touching tribute and have taken to social media to express their emotions.

We're so happy for Joaquin and Rooney!

Friend Mark Ruffalo was so excited for the pair he commented on a Rooney Mara fan Instagram account thinking it was Rooney's real account. THAT's how excited he was!

It makes me love him more, TBH.

What do you think of the new parents and their sweet tribute? Let us know in the comments below!

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