Ren

♀ Girl

Pronounced REN /rɛn/High

Meaning: lotus, water lilyHigh

In 30 seconds: Ren is a one-syllable Japanese and Chinese name meaning lotus or benevolence. Pure, minimal, and deeply meaningful, it is increasingly popular in Western countries for its Zen simplicity.

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Origin HighJapanese, Chinese

Meaninglotus, water lily

U.S. rank (2025)#2190 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births85 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 813

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ren is a Japanese and Chinese name with multiple possible characters and meanings. Written as 蓮 it means lotus; as 恋 it means love; in Chinese, the character 仁 (rén) means benevolence, one of Confucius's most central virtues. All meanings are deeply positive.

Ren has grown popular in Western countries as East Asian minimalist names gained appeal, and through pop culture references including Ren & Stimpy and the character Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. For girls it offers rare one-syllable elegance.

Did you know? In Buddhist symbolism, the lotus (ren/蓮) represents purity and enlightenment because it grows from muddy water yet blooms into a perfect flower — a powerful metaphor that has made ren one of the most spiritually resonant words in East Asian culture.

Overall data confidence 83%

Kenkyusha Japanese-English Dictionary — reference for RenBehind the Name: Ren — name etymology reference

Variations

WrenLynnRenn

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Kylo Ren (fictional)
Fictional villain (born Ben Solo) of the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015–2019), leader of the Knights of Ren.

If you like Ren…

Wren— one-syllable nature name with similar sound

Kai— short multicultural name of similar minimalist appeal

Luna— simple elegant name growing in popularity

Koi— shares Ren's Japanese roots

Mai— the same nature feel

Explore names like Ren

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Frequently Asked

What does Ren mean?

Ren means lotus or water lily in Japanese (蓮), love in another Japanese character, and benevolence in Chinese (仁).

How do you pronounce Ren?

Ren is pronounced REN (/rɛn/), with one syllable.

Is Ren a girl's name?

Ren is used for both boys and girls in Japan and is increasingly used for girls in Western countries.

How popular is the name Ren?

Ren has grown in popularity in Western countries as minimalist East Asian names have gained appeal in the 21st century.