Wren
REN /rɛn/
Meaning of Wren
Wren is from the Old English wrenna — the small songbird. As a given name it is almost entirely 21st-century; it was effectively absent from US and UK registries before 2010. The wren has cultural significance in British and Irish tradition as the 'king of birds' in folk-tale (the wren wins a flying competition by hiding on the eagle's back). The name's brevity and its nature-name quality have driven rapid uptake.
Current popularity of Wren
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #230 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #88 |
Notable bearers of Wren
Sir Christopher Wren (architect of St Paul's Cathedral, 1632–1723); the wren in Eurasian folklore.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Wren — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31