René
René is a common first name in French-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and German-speaking countries. It derives from the Latin name Renatus.
René is the masculine form of the name. In some non-Francophone countries, however, there exists the habit of giving the name René to girls as well as boys.
In addition, both forms are used as surnames.
René as a first name given to boys in the United States reached its peaks in popularity in 1969 and 1983 when it ranked 256th. Since 1983 its popularity has steadily declined and it ranked 881st in 2016.
René as a first name given to girls in the United States reached its peak in popularity in 1962 when it ranked 306th. The last year for which René was ranked in the top 1000 names given to girls in the United States was 1988.
Persons with the given name
Academics, philosophers and religious
- René de Birague, cardinal of the Catholic Church
- René Descartes, French philosopher, scientist and mathematician
- René Goupil, Canadian Catholic martyr and saint
- René Guénon, French metaphysician and Sufi initiate
- René Thom, French mathematician
- René Girard, French historian, literary critic, and philosopher
- René Henry Gracida, American Catholic prelate
- René Chamussy, French-Lebanese Jesuit priest and academic administrator
Artists, singers, and writers
- René Rozet, French sculptor
- Rene Cinquin, American cartographer and painter
- René Deltgen, Luxembourgish actor
- René Carol, German singer
- René Mauriès, French journalist, reporter and writer
- René Goscinny, French comic book editor and writer
- René Ballet, French journalist, novelist and essayist
- René Muñoz, Cuban actor and scriptwriter
- René Auberjonois, American actor
- René Angélil, Canadian music producer and agent
- René Frégni, French novelist
- Rene Russo, American actress
- René Froger, Dutch singer
- René Simard, Canadian singer
- Rene Farrait, Puerto Rican singer, member of boy band Menudo
- Rene Bitorajac, Croatian actor
- René Juan Pérez Joglar, known professionally as Residente, is a Puerto Rican rapper, writer and filmmaker
- Rene Aranda, American actress
- Rene Kirby, American actor
- René Kollo, German tenor
- René Magritte, Belgian surrealist painter
- René Marqués, Puerto Rican short story writer and playwright
- Rene Mederos, Cuban poster artist and graphic designer
- Rene Medvešek, Croatian actor
- René Morrell, African-American artist
- René Pape, German opera singer
- René Steinke, German actor
- René Villa, Costa Rican singer
Cuisine and couture
- René Bégué, French fashion designer
- René Arend, Luxembourgish American chef, McDonald's first executive chef
Medieval nobility
- René, Duke of Anjou, titular king of Naples and Jerusalem
- René II, Duke of Lorraine, grandson of René of Anjou
- René I, Viscount of Rohan, warrior of the Italian War of 1551–1559
- René II, Viscount of Rohan, his Huguenot son
Military
- René de Froulay de Tessé, French marshal
- René Reille, French soldier, industrialist, politician
- René Fonck, French aviator and most successful pilot in World War I
- Rene Gagnon, American World War II veteran, raised the American flag during the battle of Iwo Jima
- René Bricard, French resistance fighter
Politicians
- René Coty, former president of France
- René Toribio, Guadeloupean politician
- René Bernatchez, Canadian politician
- René Lamps, French politician
- René Lévesque, Canadian journalist and politician, premier of Quebec
- Rene Plasencia, Florida House of Representatives member
Professionals and business
- René Favaloro, Argentine cardiac surgeon
- René Mornex, French doctor and academic
- René Barents, Dutch judge and legal scholar
- René Bernards, Dutch oncologist
- René Prêtre, Swiss pediatric cardiovascular surgeon
- René Janssen, Dutch nanotechnologist
- René Obermann, German businessman
- René Lépine, Canadian businessman and real estate developer
Sports
- René Lacoste, French tennis player and businessman
- René Robert, Canadian ice hockey player
- René Deutschmann, French footballer
- René Weller, German boxer
- Rene Capo, Cuban-American judoka
- René Sporleder, German judoka
- René Vydarený, Slovakian ice hockey player
- Rene Ranger, New Zealand rugby player
- René Rast, German racing driver
- René Rougeau, American basketball player for Maccabi Haifa, Israel
- Renê (footballer, born 1992), Brazilian footballer
- Renê (footballer, born 2003), Brazilian footballer
- René Binder, Austrian racing driver
- René Reyes, American baseball player
Persons with this surname
- Denise René, French art dealer
- France-Albert René, second President of Seychelles
- Lisa Rene, American murder victim
- Mélanie René, Swiss singer
- Wendy Rene, American soul singer and songwriter