UK girl's name
Renu
A feminine Sanskrit name meaning "lotus flower" or "brilliant".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Renu is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Renu popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5556, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 6 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1996 to 2009. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Renu. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Renu ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 6 girls were registered as Renu.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Renu as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5556
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
6 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Renu mean?
The name Renu is derived from the Sanskrit language, which has its roots in ancient India. It is a feminine name that originated in the Indian subcontinent, where it has been popular for centuries.
The word "Renu" in Sanskrit means "dust particle" or "atom." In Hindu philosophy, it is believed that the universe is made up of innumerable atoms or particles, and the name Renu symbolizes the idea of the individual being a small but essential part of the larger cosmic whole.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Renu dates back to the ancient Hindu scriptures, particularly the Upanishads and the Vedas. These sacred texts, which are among the oldest known literature in the world, mention the name Renu in various contexts, often associated with wisdom, spirituality, and the pursuit of knowledge.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Renu was Renu Devi, a princess and poet from the 7th century CE. She was renowned for her literary works, which explored themes of love, devotion, and the human condition. Her poetry is still widely celebrated in India today.
Another notable historical figure with the name Renu was Renu Chakravartty, an Indian novelist and short story writer who lived from 1919 to 1992. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Nayi Kahani ("New Story") literary movement in Hindi literature, which focused on realistic depictions of everyday life and societal issues.
In the field of science, Renu Malhotra is a renowned Indian-American astronomer born in 1970. She is best known for her groundbreaking work on the outer Solar System, particularly her discoveries of several distant objects beyond the orbit of Neptune.
Renu Desai, born in 1979, is an Indian film director, producer, and actress. She has worked in various regional film industries, including Telugu and Tamil cinema, and is known for her contributions to women-centric narratives and social issues on the silver screen.
Renu Khator is an Indian-American academic and administrator who has served as the president of the University of Houston since 2008. Born in 1956, she is widely recognized for her leadership in higher education and her efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity on university campuses.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Renu over time
The chart below shows babies named Renu registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Renu, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Renu by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Renu was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5556 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3124 | 13 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Renu
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Renu: questions and answers
How popular is the name Renu in the UK right now?
In 2009, Renu was ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Renu most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 6 babies registered as Renu in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Renu?
A feminine Sanskrit name meaning "lotus flower" or "brilliant".
How many people are called Renu in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Renu across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.