Renan, of French and Breton origin, is a unisex given name derived from the Celtic root "rhan," which means "small." It has been traditionally used more often for males in France and other Francophone countries, but its usage has expanded to include females in recent years. The name Renan has a historic and cultural significance in Brittany, where it is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages. It is often associated with the French region's unique language, culture, and heritage.
The name Renan experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a total of 381 children born with this name between 1968 and 2023. The highest number of births occurred in 2021 with 13 babies named Renan, while other peak years included 2000 (18 births) and 2017 (14 births). However, there were several years where only a single-digit number of babies were named Renan, indicating that the name's popularity was not consistently high.