Rene first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rene has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rene

A French masculine name meaning "reborn" or "born again".

Popularity of Rene by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Rene is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 83% of people named Rene being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 200 male babies and 19 female babies born with the name Rene.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 200 19
2022 234 15
2021 230 15
2020 217 20
2019 230 13
2018 226 18
2017 260 16
2016 246 20
2015 276 19
2014 287 21
2013 291 23
2012 314 14
2011 363 29
2010 388 17
2009 410 21
2008 464 35
2007 507 29
2006 523 31
2005 524 47
2004 573 42
2003 563 44
2002 586 58
2001 591 65
2000 662 89
1999 610 78
1998 613 83
1997 640 103
1996 650 92
1995 699 97
1994 744 119
1993 738 110
1992 773 134
1991 834 131
1990 838 146
1989 739 165
1988 754 166
1987 707 184
1986 757 201
1985 732 192
1984 766 209
1983 811 221
1982 653 276
1981 662 282
1980 675 264
1979 721 255
1978 680 286
1977 688 293
1976 687 275
1975 688 325
1974 725 344

The history of the first name Rene

The name Rene originates from the French language, deriving from the Germanic name Reinhold or Reginold. It has been in use since the Middle Ages, with its roots tracing back to the 8th century. The name is composed of the Germanic elements "ragin" meaning "counsel" and "wald" meaning "ruler."

In its earliest form, Rene was spelled as Reinhold or Reginold. It gained popularity in France during the 12th century and gradually evolved into the modern spelling of Rene. The name was particularly favored by French nobility and was often given to members of the aristocracy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rene appears in the 11th century, with Rene d'Anjou (1409-1480), a prominent French prince and Duke of Anjou. He was known for his patronage of the arts and was a celebrated poet and playwright during the Renaissance era.

Another notable figure bearing the name Rene was Rene Descartes (1596-1650), a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. He is widely regarded as the father of modern philosophy and is famous for his philosophical statement, "I think, therefore I am" (Cogito, ergo sum).

In the realm of literature, Rene was the name of the protagonist in the novel "René" by François-René de Chateaubriand (1768-1848), a renowned French writer and diplomat. The novel explored themes of melancholy and alienation, and its impact on the Romantic movement was significant.

One of the most celebrated artists with the name Rene was Rene Magritte (1898-1967), a Belgian surrealist painter known for his thought-provoking and enigmatic works, such as "The Treachery of Images" and "The Son of Man."

In the realm of music, Rene Jacobs (born 1946) is a renowned Belgian conductor and countertenor, renowned for his interpretations of Baroque and early Classical repertoire.

While the name Rene has been more commonly used in French-speaking countries, it has also been adopted in various cultures around the world, with its meaning and associations reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bear it.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rene was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rene, please contact us.

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"Rene first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rene-meaning-and-history/.

"Rene first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rene-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Rene first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rene-meaning-and-history/.

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