How to say it
REM · i
/ˈrɛm.i/
Unisex
Remi
Oarsman, or 'remedy'
What it means
French short of Rémy (Latin Remigius, 'oarsman'). Also reads as a feminine short for Remington. Saint Rémi (Remigius of Reims, c. 437-533) baptized Clovis I, founding the Catholic French monarchy. Pixar's Ratatouille (2007) features Remy the rat-chef.
Remi is the French Rémy, from the Latin Remigius, meaning 'oarsman' (from remex, 'rower'). Saint Rémi (Remigius of Reims, c. 437-533) baptized King Clovis I of the Franks at Christmas 496, an event that founded the Catholic French monarchy and made Rémy a deeply Catholic French name. Pixar's Ratatouille (2007) features Remy the rat-chef who dreams of cooking in Paris, which brought the name into US popular awareness for children. As a US first name Remi has been climbing since 2010 and is firmly unisex (slightly feminine in current trends). It entered the US top 300 in 2018. Single short; Remi is already a short for Rémy or Remington.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #118 in 2022, currently #145 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #720 in 2021, currently #787 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Remi (I) is more common for girls in current US use; Remy (Y) is the original French and reads more masculine.
- Pop culture
Ratatouille (Pixar, 2007) features Remy the rat-chef; it's the deepest English-language anchor for kids born after 2007.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Saint Remi Bishop of Reims, baptized Clovis I in 496, c. 437-533
- Remy (Ratatouille) The rat-chef protagonist of Pixar's 2007 film
Spelling variants
- Remy
- Rémy
- Remmy