Rennie is a unique and distinctive given name of Scottish origin. The name Rennie is derived from the Scottish surname Renwick, which is believed to have originated from the village of Renwick in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
The meaning behind the name Rennie is not explicitly clear as it is not directly associated with any specific word or phrase. However, some sources suggest that the name may be derived from the Old Norse words "hringr" and "bygging," which together mean "ring building." This could possibly refer to a fortified tower or ring wall surrounding a settlement.
The surname Renwick was brought to Scotland by Norse settlers during the Viking Age. Over time, the name evolved and eventually became associated with various spellings such as Rennie, Rennie, Renney, and Reaney among others.
While Rennie is not a particularly common given name today, it has been used throughout history and can be found in various historical records and documents from Scotland and other parts of the British Isles. Some notable individuals with the surname Rennie include Sir Hew Dalrymple-Hamilton, 1st Baronet, who served as a Scottish judge in the 18th century, and Thomas Rennie, a Scottish merchant who was involved in the colonization of Australia.
In conclusion, Rennie is a unique given name of Scottish origin with an uncertain meaning but an interesting history tied to Norse settlers and medieval Scotland. Its association with various spellings of the surname Renwick reflects its evolution over time and provides insight into its possible origins.
The name Rennie has a rich history of usage in the United States, with its popularity fluctuating over time as reflected in the birth statistics provided.
The earliest recorded births with the name Rennie in the U.S. occurred in 1880 and 1882, with five births each year. This indicates that the name was already being used at the end of the 19th century, albeit sparingly. The name's usage continued intermittently throughout the early 20th century, with peaks in popularity occurring in the years 1916 to 1922 and again in 1945 to 1958.
The most notable period of popularity for the name Rennie was from 1916 to 1922. During this time, there were consistently high numbers of births with the name, reaching a peak of 20 births in 1922. This suggests that the name may have been particularly fashionable or significant during this era.
However, after the 1950s, the usage of the name Rennie began to decline steadily. From 1967 onwards, there were fewer than ten births with the name each year, indicating a decrease in its popularity.
Despite this decline in recent decades, it is notable that the name has not entirely disappeared. There have been consistently low numbers of births with the name Rennie since the 1980s, with peaks occurring most recently in 2014 and 2019 (with six and thirteen births respectively). This suggests that while the name may no longer be particularly popular, it continues to be used by some families.
In total, there have been 920 births with the name Rennie recorded in the United States since 1880. This demonstrates that although its popularity has waxed and waned over time, the name Rennie has a significant history of usage in the U.S. and continues to be chosen by parents for their children today.