Rennie Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: REN-ee /ˈrɛni/
Origin: Scottish; English
Meaning: Scottish: 'ruler'; English: diminutive of names like Renard
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Rennie has its roots in the Gaelic language, specifically deriving from the name Renaud, which is of Old High German origin. The name Renaud itself comes from the elements 'ragin,' meaning 'counsel' or 'advice,' and 'wald,' meaning 'rule' or 'power.' This etymological journey can be traced from the Germanic roots to the Old French form Renaut, which was later anglicized to Rennie in English-speaking contexts.
The transition into English likely occurred during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Norman names were introduced into the English lexicon. Historically, the name Rennie has been associated with various notable figures.
One significant milestone is the use of the name in medieval Europe, where it was borne by several nobles and knights. The name Renaud appears in the context of the chansons de geste, epic poems that celebrated the deeds of heroic figures, particularly during the 12th century.
Additionally, the name has connections to saints, such as Saint Renaud, who was venerated in the medieval period, further embedding the name within the cultural and religious fabric of the time. Culturally, the name Rennie has connotations of strength and leadership, reflective of its meaning related to counsel and power.
This resonance has allowed the name to endure through the centuries, often associated with qualities of wisdom and authority. The diminutive form, Ren, has also been used historically, providing a more informal variant that retains the essence of the original name.
Overall, Rennie's historical significance and etymological roots reflect a rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural evolution.
Famous people named Rennie
In this section, you will find notable people named Rennie. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Rennie who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Rennie who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Rennie Harlin is a film director and producer best known for Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, and The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Rennie Davis is an activist best known for his role in the Chicago Seven and as a leader of the anti-Vietnam War movement.
Fictional characters named Rennie
The following list of fictional characters named Rennie is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Rennie is a fictional character from the film and novel The Last House on the Left. She is a young woman who becomes a victim of a brutal crime, leading to a harrowing tale of revenge and justice.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rennie, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rennie. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Rennie was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Rennie has ranked as high as #2487 nationally, which occurred in 1956, and has been most popular in California, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Rennie has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Rennie is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rennie was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rennie.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2019 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2007 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2005 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2004 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2003 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1997 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1996 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 1995 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1993 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 1992 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1991 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1990 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1989 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 1988 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1987 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| 1986 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 1984 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1983 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1982 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 1981 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 1980 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 1979 | 18 | 9 | 9 |
| 1978 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1977 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| 1976 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| 1975 | 20 | 9 | 11 |
| 1974 | 29 | 21 | 8 |
| 1973 | 21 | 10 | 11 |
| 1972 | 18 | 7 | 11 |
| 1971 | 26 | 10 | 16 |
| 1970 | 24 | 15 | 9 |
| 1969 | 24 | 11 | 13 |
| 1968 | 24 | 14 | 10 |
| 1967 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 1966 | 31 | 20 | 11 |
| 1965 | 37 | 21 | 16 |
| 1964 | 28 | 17 | 11 |
| 1963 | 41 | 22 | 19 |
| 1962 | 39 | 23 | 16 |
| 1961 | 42 | 32 | 10 |
| 1960 | 38 | 22 | 16 |
| 1959 | 26 | 13 | 13 |
| 1958 | 27 | 14 | 13 |
| 1957 | 39 | 27 | 12 |
| 1956 | 49 | 31 | 18 |
| 1955 | 37 | 24 | 13 |
| 1954 | 33 | 19 | 14 |
| 1953 | 31 | 20 | 11 |
| 1952 | 36 | 19 | 17 |
| 1951 | 29 | 16 | 13 |
| 1950 | 30 | 18 | 12 |
| 1949 | 26 | 12 | 14 |
| 1948 | 42 | 32 | 10 |
| 1947 | 26 | 11 | 15 |
| 1946 | 25 | 11 | 14 |
| 1945 | 27 | 14 | 13 |
| 1944 | 18 | 9 | 9 |
| 1943 | 24 | 13 | 11 |
| 1942 | 24 | 13 | 11 |
| 1941 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 1940 | 22 | 16 | 6 |
| 1939 | 23 | 13 | 10 |
| 1938 | 24 | 13 | 11 |
| 1937 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1936 | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| 1935 | 18 | 6 | 12 |
| 1934 | 15 | 7 | 8 |
| 1933 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1931 | 18 | 5 | 13 |
| 1930 | 15 | 7 | 8 |
| 1929 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1928 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| 1927 | 20 | 9 | 11 |
| 1926 | 18 | 7 | 11 |
| 1925 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
| 1924 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1923 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1922 | 27 | 7 | 20 |
| 1921 | 23 | 11 | 12 |
| 1920 | 18 | 7 | 11 |
| 1919 | 21 | 8 | 13 |
| 1918 | 21 | 8 | 13 |
| 1917 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1916 | 19 | 5 | 14 |
| 1915 | 17 | 9 | 8 |
| 1914 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1913 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1910 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1908 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1905 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1903 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1901 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1900 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1898 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1892 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1891 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1885 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 1883 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1882 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1880 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Rennie (1977)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |