How to say it
WREN
rɛn
Feminine
Wren
Wren bird
What it means
English name of the small brown songbird, from Old English wrenna. A nature-name in the same vein as Lark, Sparrow, and Robin; surged in the 2010s as one of the more elegant single-syllable picks.
Wren is the English name of the small, energetic brown songbird, from Old English wrenna. The wren has long folk associations in British and Irish culture, the 'Wren Boys' tradition on Saint Stephen's Day (December 26) involved hunting the wren in symbolic ritual. Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, gave the surname its English anchor. As a first name Wren is recent: rare before 2010, then climbing fast as part of the modern minimalist nature-name wave (Sage, Rae, Wren, Lark). It's predominantly feminine in US records but appears for both. Single syllable; no shorter form.
How to spell Wren
The standard spelling is Wren. Common variants include Wrenn, Renn, but Wren is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #184 in 2022, currently #231 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Christopher Wren (the architect) is the historical surname anchor; the modern first-name usage is mostly about the bird itself.
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.
- Sir Christopher Wren English architect of St. Paul's Cathedral (Wren as surname)
Spelling variants
- Wrenn
- Renn
Names with the same feeling
See Wren from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Wren mean?
- English name of the small brown songbird, from Old English wrenna. A nature-name in the same vein as Lark, Sparrow, and Robin; surged in the 2010s as one of the more elegant single-syllable picks.
- What does Wren mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Wren means "Wren bird." Wren is the English name of the small, energetic brown songbird, from Old English wrenna. The wren has long folk associations in British and Irish culture, the 'Wren Boys' tradition on Saint Stephen's Day (December 26) involved hunting the wren in symbolic ritual. Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, gave the surname its English anchor. As a first name Wren is recent: rare before 2010, then climbing fast as part of the modern minimalist nature-name wave (Sage, Rae, Wren, Lark). It's predominantly feminine in US records but appears for both. Single syllable; no shorter form.
- How do you pronounce Wren?
- Wren is pronounced rɛn. Say it as WREN, with the stress on the "wren" syllable.
- How do you spell Wren?
- The standard spelling is Wren. Common spelling variants include Wrenn, Renn.
- Is Wren a boy or girl name?
- Wren is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Wren?
- Wren ranked #231 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.