Warren
Warren: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwɒɹən/ · /ˈwɔɹən/
Meaning and origin of Warren
Root meaning: “river, water”
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
Etymology
From the Anglo-Norman surname (de) Warenne, a reference to a place called Varenne, a hamlet near Arques-la-Bataille, along the river Varenne in Normandy, from Medieval Latin Warinna, a hydronym of Celtic/Gaulish origin, from *var-, *ver- (“river, water”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wer- (“water, rain, flow”); see also the Latin river Avara. Phonetic Germanic influence is shown by the [v] > [w].
How popular is Warren?
Since 1880, 984 girls and 184,518 boys in the U.S. have been named Warren (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1418 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #24 in 1921. In 2025 it ranked #240 for boys, with 1,493 babies given the name.
Names similar to Warren
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Warren
Sister and brother names that share Warren's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Warren FAQ
What does the name Warren mean?
Warren traces back to a root meaning "river, water". A male given name from the Germanic languages. From the Anglo-Norman surname (de) Warenne, a reference to a place called Varenne, a hamlet near Arques-la-Bataille, along the river Varenne in Normandy, from Medieval Latin Warinna, a hydronym of Celtic/Gaulish origin, from *var-, *ver- (“river, water”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wer- (“water, rain, flow”); see also the Latin river Avara. Phonetic Germanic influence is shown by the [v] > [w].
What is the origin of the name Warren?
Warren is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Warren?
Since 1880, 984 girls and 184,518 boys in the U.S. have been named Warren (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1418 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #24 in 1921. In 2025 it ranked #240 for boys, with 1,493 babies given the name.
Is Warren a boy or girl name?
Warren is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 984 girls and 184,518 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.