Holding steady.
Popularity of Renay since 1936
Babies named Renay per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1960, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Renay's real moment was 1967.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 130 |
| 1950s | 426 |
| 1960s | 637 |
| 1970s | 308 |
| 1980s | 172 |
| 1990s | 136 |
| 2000s | 92 |
| 2010s | 30 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Renay is a mid-20th-century American respelling of Renée, peaking in 1967 during the era's preference for phonetic and streamlined names. Although it never entered the top 1000, its trajectory has remained stable since its first recorded use in 1936, with a peak in the 1960s. The name's 1-in-N frequency is not available due to low usage, but it reflects the creative naming trends of its time. Renay's cool 'y' ending and French-derived meaning offer a simple, melodic choice that has stayed consistently rare.
Renay is an English variant of the French name Renée, the feminine form of René, derived from the Latin Renatus meaning 'reborn'. The name emerged in English-speaking countries in the early 20th century as a respelled form, likely influenced by the popularity of names ending in '-ay'. It saw modest use in the mid-1900s, particularly in the 1960s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ren, Renni
Sibling names for Renay
Names that share Renay's style, for a brother or sister.
