Rene

♂ Boy

Pronounced ruh-NAY /rəˈneɪ/High

Meaning: Reborn; from Latin renatus (born again); the masculine form of RenéeHigh

In 30 seconds: The masculine French form of Renée meaning 'reborn,' from Latin renatus. One of France's classic masculine names, famously borne by philosopher René Descartes — 'I think, therefore I am.'

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Origin HighFrench, Latin

MeaningReborn; from Latin renatus (born again); the masculine form of Renée

U.S. rank (2024)#990 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births227 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1970

Total births (all-time)≈ 50,740

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

René is the French masculine form of the Latin renatus (born again, reborn), the past participle of renasci. The name has deep Christian resonance (spiritual rebirth through baptism). It has been used in France since the early medieval period.

Rene (without the accent) has been used in the U.S. for both boys and girls. For boys it ranked #990 in 2024.

Did you know? René Descartes (1596–1650) was one of the most influential philosophers in history — his Cogito ergo sum ('I think, therefore I am') is arguably the most famous sentence in Western philosophy and the foundation of his method of systematic doubt.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — René — French/Latin etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

RenéRenato

Nicknames

Ren

Famous Bearers

★René Descartes (1596–1650)
French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. Author of 'Cogito ergo sum' (I think, therefore I am). Considered the father of modern philosophy.

If you like Rene…

Rafael— Spanish/French -el ending masculine name with the same classic Romance feel

Pierre— French masculine name with the same classic Gallic simplicity

Renaud— French masculine name from the same Ren- root

Reynald— French masculine name with the same -ren- phonetics

Hugo— French/German masculine name with the same classic Continental character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rene mean?

Rene means 'reborn,' as the French masculine form of Latin renatus (born again).

How do you pronounce Rene?

It's said ruh-NAY — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Rene a boy or girl name?

Rene is used for both sexes; Renée (with accent) is the feminine form.

How popular is Rene?

Rene ranked #990 for U.S. boys in 2024.