Reynard Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: RAY-nard //ˈreɪ.nɑrd//
Origin: French; German
Meaning: French: 'fox'; German: 'counselor'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Reynard has its roots in the Germanic elements "ragin," meaning "counsel," and "hard," meaning "brave" or "hardy." It evolved through various linguistic stages, beginning with the Old High German form "Reginhard," which was later adapted into Old French as "Renard." The name was introduced into English during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where it became associated with the character of the cunning fox in medieval literature, particularly in the fables known as "Reynard the Fox," which were popularized in the 12th century. This character, often depicted as a trickster, became emblematic of cleverness and wit, further embedding the name in cultural narratives across Europe.
Historically, Reynard has been associated with various literary and cultural milestones. The tales of Reynard the Fox were significant in medieval literature, influencing works in multiple languages and serving as a vehicle for social commentary.
The character's adventures were adapted into numerous forms, including poetry and prose, throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, reflecting the complexities of human nature and societal norms. The name also appeared in the context of notable figures, such as Reynard of Laon, a 12th-century theologian, and in various regional adaptations of the fables.
Culturally, the name Reynard has maintained a symbolic resonance, often associated with intelligence, cunning, and adaptability. The fox, as a creature of folklore, embodies traits that have been celebrated in various traditions, making the name a lasting emblem of cleverness.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Rey" have emerged in some cultures, though the primary historical significance of Reynard remains tied to its literary and folkloric roots. Overall, the name's journey through language and literature highlights its enduring legacy in European cultural history.
Fictional characters named Reynard
The following list of fictional characters named Reynard 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.
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Reynard the Fox is a fictional character from various medieval fables and literature. He is a cunning and clever trickster known for outsmarting other animals and humans alike.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Reynard, 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 Reynard. 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 Reynard was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Reynard has ranked as high as #6346 nationally, which occurred in 1983, and has been most popular in Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Reynard has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Reynard 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 Reynard 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 Reynard.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 |
| 2012 | 6 | 6 |
| 2011 | 5 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 | 6 |
| 2007 | 5 | 5 |
| 2006 | 5 | 5 |
| 2004 | 7 | 7 |
| 2003 | 11 | 11 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 |
| 2000 | 7 | 7 |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 |
| 1998 | 6 | 6 |
| 1997 | 7 | 7 |
| 1996 | 6 | 6 |
| 1995 | 10 | 10 |
| 1994 | 6 | 6 |
| 1993 | 11 | 11 |
| 1992 | 17 | 17 |
| 1991 | 10 | 10 |
| 1990 | 10 | 10 |
| 1989 | 16 | 16 |
| 1988 | 10 | 10 |
| 1987 | 14 | 14 |
| 1986 | 6 | 6 |
| 1985 | 10 | 10 |
| 1984 | 15 | 15 |
| 1983 | 18 | 18 |
| 1982 | 15 | 15 |
| 1981 | 11 | 11 |
| 1980 | 10 | 10 |
| 1979 | 15 | 15 |
| 1978 | 15 | 15 |
| 1977 | 11 | 11 |
| 1976 | 8 | 8 |
| 1975 | 16 | 16 |
| 1974 | 8 | 8 |
| 1973 | 9 | 9 |
| 1972 | 14 | 14 |
| 1971 | 9 | 9 |
| 1970 | 15 | 15 |
| 1969 | 9 | 9 |
| 1968 | 7 | 7 |
| 1967 | 7 | 7 |
| 1966 | 7 | 7 |
| 1965 | 12 | 12 |
| 1964 | 18 | 18 |
| 1963 | 10 | 10 |
| 1962 | 11 | 11 |
| 1961 | 15 | 15 |
| 1960 | 15 | 15 |
| 1959 | 11 | 11 |
| 1958 | 9 | 9 |
| 1957 | 7 | 7 |
| 1956 | 7 | 7 |
| 1954 | 9 | 9 |
| 1953 | 15 | 15 |
| 1952 | 10 | 10 |
| 1951 | 7 | 7 |
| 1949 | 7 | 7 |
| 1948 | 7 | 7 |
| 1946 | 7 | 7 |
| 1945 | 8 | 8 |
| 1943 | 6 | 6 |
| 1942 | 9 | 9 |
| 1941 | 5 | 5 |
| 1940 | 7 | 7 |
| 1935 | 6 | 6 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 |
| 1929 | 6 | 6 |
| 1928 | 6 | 6 |
| 1926 | 6 | 6 |
| 1925 | 5 | 5 |
| 1923 | 5 | 5 |
| 1922 | 6 | 6 |
| 1919 | 5 | 5 |
| 1918 | 6 | 6 |
| 1915 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Reynard (1979)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 5 |