Declining since 2022, #5,208 for boys today.
Popularity of Rhen since 1985
Babies named Rhen per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 43 |
| 1990s | 0 | 27 |
| 2000s | 0 | 11 |
| 2010s | 85 | 101 |
| 2020s | 100 | 156 |
Meaning & origin
Rhen is a modern unisex name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1985. It reached its peak popularity in 2023, and has since been gradually falling in use, with a trajectory decline starting in 2022. In 2025, it ranked 5,208 with an occurrence of 1 in 94,893 newborns. The name's origin is uncertain; it may be a creative respelling of the Japanese name Ren, meaning 'lotus,' or a variant of the bird name Wren. Its recent rise and fall reflect the pattern of many modern invented names, gaining a niche appeal before losing momentum. While not tied to any specific region or state, Rhen has been used across the country as a distinctive alternative to more traditional unisex names.
Rhen is a modern coinage with no clear historical etymology. It may be a respelling of the Japanese name Ren (meaning 'lotus') or an altered spelling of Wren, after the small bird. Its use in the United States began in the mid-1980s, and it has seen gradual adoption as a unisex name in the 21st century.
Sibling names for Rhen
Names that share Rhen's style, for a brother or sister.
