The name Renae is a feminine given name of French origin, derived from the Old French name Renaude or Reinaude. It is a combination of the Germanic elements "ragin" meaning "counsel" and "wald" meaning "rule." The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

Renae is a variant spelling of the name Renée, which was originally a French masculine name before becoming feminized. The name gained popularity in France during the Renaissance period, particularly among the nobility and upper classes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Renae can be found in the records of the French city of Rouen, where a woman named Renae de Boissy was mentioned in a document dated 1278. Another notable historical figure who bore this name was Renae de Montferrat, a 13th-century French noblewoman and lady-in-waiting to Queen Blanche of Castile.

In the 16th century, a French poet and playwright named Renae Bellay lived from 1528 to 1560. She was known for her contributions to the literature of the French Renaissance. Another prominent figure was Renae Descartes, a 17th-century French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist who lived from 1596 to 1650. He is often regarded as the father of modern philosophy and is best known for the famous quote "I think, therefore I am."

In the 19th century, Renae Vivien, a French poet and writer, lived from 1877 to 1909. She was part of the Parisian literary circle and was known for her contributions to the Symbolist movement in poetry.

While the name Renae has French roots, it has also been adopted and used in other cultures and languages over time. It has been particularly popular in English-speaking countries, where it is often spelled as Renae or Renée.