Renald is a name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German name Raginold, which is composed of two elements: "ragin" meaning "advice" or "counsel," and "wulf" meaning "wolf." The name Renald thus translates to "advice wolf."
The name was brought to France by the Normans during the 11th century, where it became popular among the French nobility. It was often anglicized to Rendall or Rendell in England.
Renald was also the name of several historical figures, including:
* Renald I, Duke of Burgundy from 921 to 936
* Renald II, Count of Bourges from around 1040 to 1057
* Renald III, Duke of Burgundy from 1127 to 1148
The name has also been used in literature, such as in "Paradise Lost" by John Milton, where it is the name of one of the fallen angels.
Today, Renald is still a popular name in France and Belgium, although it is less common elsewhere. It is often associated with strength, leadership, and wisdom due to its etymology and historical figures who bore the name.
The name Renald has been given to a total of 518 babies born in the United States between the years 1915 and 2007, according to available birth records.
The name's popularity varied over time, with some years seeing more than ten births while others saw only five or fewer. The highest number of Renalds were born in the year 1924, with seventeen babies given this name. This was followed by a peak in the late 1930s and early 1940s, during which time there were consistently around ten to twelve births per year.
However, the popularity of the name Renald declined significantly after World War II. Between 1950 and 2007, only seventy-two babies were named Renald, an average of about two per year. The most recent year for which data is available is 2007, with six births recorded.
Overall, while the name Renald has not been particularly common in the United States over the past century, it has still been given to a significant number of babies during this time period.