Lotus or water lily; also ruler or benevolent
In Japanese, Ren is a popular name meaning lotus, a flower symbolizing purity and enlightenment. It also has roots in Latin as a short form of Rene, meaning reborn, and in Germanic traditions as a diminutive of names like Reynold, meaning ruler's counsel.
Less common today
Ren isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #1,042 in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
The protagonist of the film and musical Footloose · Footloose
The high-strung Chihuahua from the animated series · The Ren & Stimpy Show
A major character in the manga and anime series Shaman King · Shaman King
Ren Gill, a Welsh singer-songwriter and musician
