A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Reno since 1886
Babies named Reno per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1996, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Reno's real moment was 1915.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 7 |
| 1890s | 17 |
| 1900s | 24 |
| 1910s | 345 |
| 1920s | 488 |
| 1930s | 266 |
| 1940s | 185 |
| 1950s | 281 |
| 1960s | 363 |
| 1970s | 321 |
| 1980s | 275 |
| 1990s | 803 |
| 2000s | 349 |
| 2010s | 273 |
| 2020s | 163 |
Meaning & origin
Reno is a name with a distinctly American origin, drawn from the city of Reno, Nevada. First recorded as a given name in 1886, it saw its peak popularity in 1915, likely riding the wave of place-names and surnames adopted as first names in the early 20th century. After a long decline, the name has been rising again since 2015, suggesting a revival interest. In 2025, it ranked 4,396, a modest position but one that indicates growing appeal. The name's trajectory shows a resurgence from obscurity, placing it among other revived vintage names. While not widely used, its connection to a well-known American city gives it a distinctive, somewhat rugged charm.
Reno originated as a place name, taken from the city of Reno, Nevada, which was named in honor of Jesse L. Reno, a Union general killed in the Civil War. The name later gained use as a given name. Additionally, Reno is a Japanese word meaning 'lotus', though this does not appear to be the primary source of the name in English-speaking contexts.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Renno
Sibling names for Reno
Names that share Reno's style, for a brother or sister.
