Ren
Ren is a given name, most often Japanese.
- Japanese
Meaning & Origin of Ren
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ren is a given name, most often Japanese.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Japanese
The Story of Ren
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Ren as a girl name dates back to 1983, when 5 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 93 newborns named Ren — #2,086 in the national rankings. About 63% of every Ren on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Ren ranks #2,086 for girls with 93 births, rising sharply (+68% over the past five years). All told, over 911 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1980s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Ren as a boy name dates back to 1915, when 5 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 204 newborns named Ren — #1,073 in the national rankings. About 43% of every Ren on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Ren ranks #1,073 for boys with 204 births, rising sharply (+62% over the past five years). All told, over 3K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Ren
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ren is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ren
What does the name Ren mean?
What is the origin of the name Ren?
How popular is Ren in 2026?
When was Ren most popular?
In which U.S. states is Ren most popular?
Is Ren a unisex name?
What names go well with Ren?
About the name Ren
Ren is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1915 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Ren's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,073. Use the chart and map above to compare Ren's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.