Rena
Meaningoften lovely · Japanese
Rena is a Japanese girl name often meaning “lovely”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationRena peaked in 1885, which makes it a Victorian-era favorite, the kind of name you'd find on a great-great-grandparent.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Rena would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 21,413 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryRena has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Renas, and counting.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Renas? Head to New Jersey, where it's the #667 girl name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million girls, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Rena
Rena is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often lovely”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It was most fashionable in the 1880s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
Other spellings of Rena
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Rena
What does the name Rena mean?
Rena means “often lovely” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Lovely (“lovely”), Tegan (“fair, lovely”), Rana (“lovely to gaze at”) and Caoimhe (“gentle, lovely”).
What is the origin of the name Rena?
Rena is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Rena a boy or girl name?
Rena is a girl name. In 2025, 75 US girls were named Rena.
How popular is the name Rena?
Rena ranked #2,387 for US girls in 2025, given to 75 babies. Its best year was 1885, when it reached #153. Over the last five years it has slipped 479 places.
What names are similar to Rena?
If you like Rena, you might also like Reena, Lovely, Tegan, Rana and Caoimhe. Reena is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Rena?
Rena is a Japanese girl name often meaning “lovely”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.