Holding steady, #5,861 for boys today.
Popularity of Renan since 1968
Babies named Renan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 17 |
| 1980s | 52 |
| 1990s | 73 |
| 2000s | 97 |
| 2010s | 98 |
| 2020s | 65 |
Meaning & origin
Renan is a name with multiple potential origins, most commonly associated with Portuguese and Hebrew backgrounds. In the United States, it was first recorded in 1968 and has seen modest but stable usage. Its peak year was 2000, when it ranked higher than in subsequent years. As of 2025, it ranks 5,861, with an occurrence of about 1 in 113,872 births, indicating that while not widely used, it maintains a steady presence. The name is most popular among families with Brazilian or Portuguese heritage, reflecting its popularity in Brazil. Its trajectory shows stability, without significant revival or decline, making it a consistent choice for those seeking a distinctive but not overly rare name.
Renan is most commonly encountered in Portuguese-speaking countries, especially Brazil. It may be derived from the Hebrew name Renan, meaning 'joyful song' or 'jubilant cry', appearing in the Old Testament. Alternatively, it can be a variant of Renato, the Italian and Portuguese form of Latin Renatus ('reborn'), or a short form of the Celtic name Renan, from the element 'ren' meaning 'seal' (the animal). The name has been in use in Brazil since the 1960s, climbing in popularity through the 1990s and peaking in 2000.
“Renan” around the world
Where Renan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ren, Nando
Variants: Renán, Renato
Sibling names for Renan
Names that share Renan's style, for a brother or sister.
