Rainer
Rainer: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Rainer
Root meaning: “counsel by the gods”
- An English and American surname transferred from the given name.
Etymology
Variant of Rayner, a patronymic surname from a medieval given name from Proto-Germanic *raginą (“counsel by the gods”) + *harjaz (“army”). Also borrowed from modern German.
How popular is Rainer?
Since 1880, 16 girls and 1,260 boys in the U.S. have been named Rainer (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #14729 in 2020. Its highest rank for boys was #1783 in 1964. In 2025, 34 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Rainer
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Rainer
Sister and brother names that share Rainer's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Rainer FAQ
What does the name Rainer mean?
Rainer traces back to a root meaning "counsel by the gods". An English and American surname transferred from the given name. Variant of Rayner, a patronymic surname from a medieval given name from Proto-Germanic *raginą (“counsel by the gods”) + *harjaz (“army”). Also borrowed from modern German.
What is the origin of the name Rainer?
Rainer is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Rainer?
Since 1880, 16 girls and 1,260 boys in the U.S. have been named Rainer (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #14729 in 2020. Its highest rank for boys was #1783 in 1964. In 2025, 34 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Rainer a boy or girl name?
Rainer is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 16 girls and 1,260 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.