"song, joyful song"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: English
Rena
Pronunciation: [ r-EEN-uh ]
Does Rena flow with your last name?
A gentle cross-cultural name meaning song, joy, and peace
Hebrew
Japanese
Greek
English
Gentle
Classic
Elegant
Minimalist
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"peace"
Origin: Greek (from Irene)
Language: English
"beautiful, graceful"
Origin: Japanese
Language: Japanese
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The Story of Rena
Rena has multiple origins across different cultures. In Hebrew, Rena (also spelled Rina) means song or joy — rinnah means joyful song. In Greek, Rena is a short form of Irene, meaning peace. In Japanese, Rena (麗奈 or 玲奈) is a popular girls name with meanings including beautiful and graceful or lovely name. This cross-cultural versatility makes Rena an unusually adaptable name.
Rena and its variant Rina have been consistently used in multiple cultures simultaneously — popular in Israel, Japan, and among English speakers of various backgrounds. Its brevity and soft sound give it universal appeal.
In Israel, Rena/Rina is a cheerful, popular name connected to music and joy. In Japan, Rena is fashionable for its elegant characters (麗奈). In Western countries, it functions as a soft international name.
Historical Record
Rena first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 17,914 babies have been named Rena in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Rena is past its peak , currently ranked #2,691 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Rena has the rare quality of being a popular given name in three completely unrelated languages
- In Hebrew, the related word rinnah (song of joy) appears in the Psalms
Rena in Other Languages
Greek
Ρήνα
Hebrew
רִינָה
Italian
Rena
Japanese
麗奈/玲奈
Popularity Over Time
#2,691
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1962
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Rena
R
Rena Sofer
Actor
1968
American actress known for General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful
R
Rena Owen
Actor
1962
New Zealand actress of Maori descent known for Once Were Warriors and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2,691
- Total SSA Count
- 64
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew Japanese Greek English
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Ren
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Rena
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Rena is also used as a boy name, ranked #17569.
View Rena as a boy name →Similar Names
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Compare Rena with...
Same Origin Names (Hebrew)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Rena
What does the name Rena mean?
"song, joyful song" (from Hebrew). "peace" (from Greek (from Irene)). "beautiful, graceful" (from Japanese). Rena has multiple origins across different cultures. In Hebrew, Rena (also spelled Rina) means song or joy — rinnah means joyful song. In Greek, Rena is a short form of Irene, meaning peace. In Japanese, Rena (麗奈 or 玲奈) is a popular girls name with meanings including beautiful and graceful or lovely name. This cross-cultural versatility makes Rena an unusually adaptable name.
What is the origin of the name Rena?
Rena has Hebrew, Greek (from Irene), Japanese, Greek, and English origins. In Hebrew, it means "song, joyful song". In Greek (from Irene), it means "peace". In Japanese, it means "beautiful, graceful".
Is Rena a boy or girl name?
Rena is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #2691. As a boy name, it is ranked #17569. Rena is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Rena?
Rena is pronounced r-EEN-uh.
How popular is the name Rena?
Rena is currently ranked #2691 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Rena?
Common nicknames for Rena include Ren.
What are good middle names for Rena?
Popular middle name pairings include Rena Marie, Rena Grace, Rena Louise, Rena Sofia, Rena Claire, and Rena Elise.
What are good sibling names for Rena?
Names that pair well with Rena as siblings include Leah, Mara, Naomi, Joel, Eli, and Maya.
How many syllables does Rena have?
Rena has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Rena a common or rare name?
Rena is an uncommon name, ranked #2691 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Rena?
About the Name Rena
Rena is a girl name with Hebrew, Japanese, Greek, and English origins . The name means "song, joyful song" in Hebrew .
Is Rena a boy or girl name? Rena is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #2,691 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #17,569. Rena is more commonly used as a girl name.
Rena is currently ranked #2,691 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Rena has 2 syllables and is pronounced r-EEN-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Rena include Ren. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Rena include Renata, Renee, Renley, Renesmee, Renlee . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis