Ren

♂ Boy

Pronounced REN /rɛn/High

Meaning: Lotus; love; from Japanese ren (lotus, water lily) and Chinese rén (benevolence, humaneness)High

In 30 seconds: A Japanese name meaning 'lotus' (the flower of Buddhist purity) and a Chinese name meaning 'benevolence.' Known in the West as a character name from The Clone Wars (Star Wars) and from Ren & Stimpy (1991).

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Origin HighJapanese, Chinese

MeaningLotus; love; from Japanese ren (lotus, water lily) and Chinese rén (benevolence, humaneness)

U.S. rank (2025)#1041 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births213 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,817

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 given name meaning lotus (water lily, a symbol of purity in Buddhism) and a Chinese name meaning benevolence or humaneness (rén, one of Confucius's cardinal virtues). In Japan it is used for both boys and girls.

Ren ranked #1145 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Kylo Ren in Star Wars — whose birth name was Ben Solo — chose the name 'Ren' as the supreme leader of the Knights of Ren. His name blends Japanese (lotus) with the philosophical concept of leadership renewal.

Overall data confidence 87%

Behind the Name — Ren — Japanese/Chinese etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

WrenRen

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Ren Gill (1990-)
Welsh singer-songwriter and rapper known by the mononym Ren

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Zen— shares the -n ending

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ren mean?

Ren means 'lotus' or 'water lily' in Japanese (a symbol of Buddhist purity) and 'benevolence' or 'humaneness' in Chinese (a Confucian virtue).

How do you pronounce Ren?

It's said REN — one syllable, rhyming with 'hen.'

Is Ren a boy or girl name?

Ren is used for both sexes in Japan.

How popular is Ren?

Ren ranked #1145 for U.S. boys in 2024.