Wrenn
A diminutive of the given name Winifred, of Germanic origin meaning "peaceful friend".
Name Census estimates that about 457 living Americans carry the first name Wrenn. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 88.5% of registrations being female. The average person named Wrenn today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Wrenn births was 2021 (63 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Wrenn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
457
~ 1 in 750,009 Americans
Peak year
2021
63 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,804
Tracked since 1987
Gender
Gender distribution for Wrenn
Wrenn leans heavily female at 88.5% of total registrations, but 53 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Wrenn as a male name
- Ranked #12,223 in 2024
- 6 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (10 births)
Wrenn as a female name
- Ranked #3,804 in 2024
- 40 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2021 (55 births)
Popularity
Wrenn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Wrenn from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 261 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Wrenn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Wrenn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Wrenns live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. North Carolina, California, Texas recorded the most babies named Wrenn, while Texas, California, North Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 15 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Wrenn
The given name Wrenn originated from the Old English word "wrenna", which translates to "small, active bird." This name has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon culture and emerged during the Middle English period, around the 11th-13th centuries. It was initially used as a surname, referring to someone who resembled the characteristics of a wren bird, perhaps due to their small stature or energetic nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of Wrenn as a first name can be traced back to the 16th century. In 1569, a document from Essex, England, mentions a "Wrenn Wyatt." Another early example is found in the parish records of St. Botolph's Church in London, where a "Wrenn Smythe" was christened in 1598.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Wrenn. One of the most prominent figures was Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), the renowned English architect who played a significant role in rebuilding numerous churches and public buildings in London after the Great Fire of 1666, including the iconic St. Paul's Cathedral.
Another historical figure with the name Wrenn was Mary Wrenn (c. 1589-1670), an English Puritan woman who was accused of witchcraft during the infamous witch trials in Hartford, Connecticut. Despite being found not guilty, her trial records provide insights into the attitudes and beliefs of the time.
In the realm of literature, Wrenn Wycliff (1849-1926) was an American author and poet who wrote extensively about life in the American West. Her works, such as "The Log of a Cowboy" and "Ranch Verses," offered a unique perspective on the cowboy culture of the late 19th century.
The name Wrenn also appears in religious contexts. For example, Wrenn Scribner (1901-1988) was an American Presbyterian minister and author who wrote extensively on Christian theology and social issues.
Another notable figure with the name Wrenn was Wrenn Schmidt (born 1976), an American actress known for her roles in various television shows and films, including "The Looming Tower" and "Outcast."
While the name Wrenn may not be as common today as it once was, its historical roots and unique origins continue to make it a distinctive and intriguing choice for a first name.
People
Wrenn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Wrenn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Wrenn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Wrenn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 457 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Wrenn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 750,009 US residents.
Is Wrenn a common name?
We classify Wrenn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 460 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Wrenn most popular?
The single biggest year for Wrenn was 2021, when 63 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Wrenn is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Wrenn a female name?
Yes, 88.5% of people registered as Wrenn in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.