The original name of the river is Kalambaguasasahan River, because of the presence of Lambago trees (Hibiscus tiliaceus, a member of the Malvaceae tree family that only thrives in low altitude areas like seashores, riverbanks and other areas reached by tidal streams)[1] along the river banks. During the arrival of the Spaniards in Cagayan de Oro, the name was changed to Cagayan River.[2][3]