Unisex name · Old English
Wren
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: small brown songbirdWren is a gender-neutral name that comes from Old English and means "small brown songbird". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Small brown songbird
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #231 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Wren
As a gender-neutral name, Wren comes from Old English and means "small brown songbird". It is used in English.
As a girl's name, Wren comes from Old English and means "small songbird". It is used in English.
Wren is also a surname: the 3,288th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 10,727 people. See the most common last names.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Wren on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Wren on 11 lists.
“A tiny, loud songbird; No. 231 for US baby girls in 2025”
From Bird names, human names that are also birds
“A tiny songbird name, which your cat will find intriguing”
From Cat names, nature cat names
“Tiny bird honored in Irish St. Stephen's Day traditions”
From Reindeer names, girl reindeer names
“Named for a tiny, bold songbird”
From Fairy garden names, fairy names for your garden's residents
“Small brown songbird; Old English, from the bird's name”
From Gender neutral names, short gender-neutral names
“A tiny songbird for a small, cheerful dog”
From Girl dog names, unique female dog names
“Small songbird; Old English. Light and airy”
From Girl middle names, one-syllable girl middle names
“A tiny Scottish bird for a tiny calf”
From Highland cattle names, cute Highland cow names
“English word name for the tiny brown songbird”
From Nature names, unisex nature names
“Nickname from the small songbird”
From Pretty last names, beautiful last names from nature
“A small songbird, short and sweet”
From Cash App names, short cashtag ideas
How popular is Wren?
In 2025, 1,331 girls and 198 boys in the US were named Wren.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #231
- 1,331 babies, 828 per million girls
- Best rank
- #184 in 2022
- 1,609 babies that year
- Babies since 1888
- At least 13,641
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 4 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 1 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 3 per million |
| 1960s | 2 per million |
| 1970s | 5 per million |
| 1980s | 6 per million |
| 1990s | 9 per million |
| 2000s | 37 per million |
| 2010s | 256 per million |
| 2020s | 825 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #524 | #464 | #468 | #427 | #360 | #252 | #184 | #195 | #214 | #231 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #1,090
- 198 babies, 116 per million boys
- Best rank
- #986 in 2023
- 224 babies that year
- Babies since 1917
- At least 2,261
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 2 per million |
| 1920s | 4 per million |
| 1930s | 1 per million |
| 1940s | 1 per million |
| 1950s | 1 per million |
| 1960s | 1 per million |
| 1970s | 1 per million |
| 1980s | 3 per million |
| 1990s | 4 per million |
| 2000s | 6 per million |
| 2010s | 36 per million |
| 2020s | 116 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,753 | #1,509 | #1,528 | #1,581 | #1,243 | #1,102 | #1,011 | #986 | #1,030 | #1,090 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Wren
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- WenLiterary, cultured (depends on characters) (Chinese, unisex)
- WynnFair, white, blessed (Welsh, unisex)
- WarrenFrom a surname meaning animal enclosure (Norman French, boy)
- WeiGreat; mighty (depends on characters) (Chinese, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- PaulSmall, humble (Latin, boy)
- PaulinaSmall (Latin, girl)
- PaulaSmall, humble (Latin, girl)
- PaulineSmall, humble (Latin, girl)
- DonnchadhBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonovanDark brown (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DuncanBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- PaolaSmall, humble (Latin, girl)
- AdvaSmall ripple (Hebrew, girl)
- ArunReddish-brown; dawn (Sanskrit, boy)
Middle names for Wren
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- AudreyNoble strength (Old English, girl)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
Wren: common questions
What does the name Wren mean?
Wren comes from Old English and means "small brown songbird". It also has another origin: "small songbird" from Old English. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Wren a boy or girl name?
Wren is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 1,331 girls and 198 boys in the US were named Wren, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Wren come from?
Wren comes from Old English and means "small brown songbird". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Wren?
Wren ranked #231 in the US in 2025, with 1,331 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Wren?
Names spelled like Wren include Wen, Wynn, Warren and Wei.
What middle names go with Wren?
Middle names that flow well with Wren include Basil, Charity, Hunter, Juniper and Paige. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.