Ren

Ren - A very unique male name

Ren appeared on the charts for the first time in 1984 on position #2534. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ren and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ren? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Ren. The baby boy name Ren was given to 151 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1074 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 9,710 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ren peaked in popularity 3 years ago in 2023 on position 1049.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ren, 1-5?

Ren is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ren is currently topping the baby name charts in Nevada at position #578 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #2,035.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ren is where you live.

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Ren origin and meaning

Japanese

In Japanese, Ren is written most often with the character for 'lotus' (ren), though as with all Japanese names, other characters — including one for 'love' — can be used

Ren is a classic unisex Japanese name, most famously written with the lotus character, that entered broader American use in the 1980s and has risen with interest in short Japanese names and pop culture. It peaked in US data in 2023.

Attested etymology

Ren is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Ren, pop culture references for the name Ren and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Ren

We've found the following names that sound similar to Ren, sorted by popularity.

Ryan / Ronnie / Roman / Ramon / Rowan / Rene / Ron / Romeo / Ronan / Ronny /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Ren

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Ren a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Ren?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

REN · /rɛn/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Wren — The English bird name, identical in sound; a separate entry, used mainly for girls.

Famous bearers

• Ren McCormack — The dancing rebel hero of the film Footloose (Fictional, 1984) Fictional

Style

International

Why parents choose it

Ren is serene and minimal — a lotus in a single syllable — and travels effortlessly between Japanese and English. It is a calm counterweight to louder short names.

Worth knowing

• Identical in sound to Wren, the bird name currently fashionable for girls.
• Kylo Ren gives it a Star Wars echo for many listeners.