Remy: Baby Name of the Day

The baby name Remy starts out in the Middle Ages before hitting the big time as the long-tailed hero of 2007’s Pixar hit Ratatouille.

Thanks to Lola for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME REMY MEAN?

Remigius is an old-school Roman family name. It’s a pretty obscure Latin personal name, but it can be found in the history books.

In Latin, it means oarsman or rower. 

Worth noting: they probably weren’t rowing kayaks. Instead, Roman warships relied on rows of oarsmen – nearly 200 in some ships – and together, they were fast. While they’re sometimes depicted as slaves, it’s more accurate to think of them as members of the navy.

That’s the clearest etymology for the given name Remy, but other possibilities exist.

WHAT ELSE MIGHT THE NAME REMY MEAN?

When the Romans arrived in Gaul, they became allies with a tribe already there: the Remi.

Some say that the tribe took their name from Remus – one of the mythical co-founders of Rome. What we do know: the city of Reims took its name from the tribe.

In addition:

• It’s sometimes a surname, usually related to Remigius.
• Names like the Spanish Remedios could also shorten to Remy, as could Jeremy or any name with the rem sound.
• There’s an obscure Saint Remedius, a French bishop from way back when. Both Remedius and Remedios come from the Latin remedium – remedy, or cure. 
• Speaking of remedy, a lesser-known title for the Virgin Mary is Our Lady of Good Remedy. Combinations like Maria Remedios nod to this title – and make it potentially a gender-neutral name.
• It can be a Japanese name, in which case it is typically feminine.
• Likewise, in Yoruba, it means “the Lord consoles me,” and is typically given to girls.

It’s easy to imagine the baby name Remy appearing across many centuries, cultures, and languages.

SAINT REMY

Back to medieval Europe.

Around the year 500, King Clovis united the Franks, founded the Merovingian dynasty, and converted to Christianity.

Saint Remigius was the Bishop of Reims who baptized Clovis.

Drop the -gius, and it’s easy to imagine Remy becoming the French vernacular form. 

It’s typically spelled Rémy in French. The name was used steadily in France over the years, and Saint-Rémy is a popular place name.

FAMOUS REMYS 

The name continues to appear as a first and last name across the centuries.

As the Middle Ages grew to a close, Nicholas Rémy became one of the most notorious witch hunters during the sixteenth century.

In 1724, winemaker Rémy Martin switched to making cognac. The brand still bears his name today.

More recently, characters in The Da Vinci Code and The Fairly Odd Parents have worn the name. 

Fans of the X-Men might think of Remy LeBeau, the given name of the X-Men character better known as Gambit. Gambit has appeared in several of the series’ big screen adaptations. Channing Tatum was set to take on the role in a stand-alone movie – but it never happened. The fictional LeBeau was a native of New Orleans, explaining his French name.

RATATOUILLE AND REMY MA

The name owes its rise to an unlikely combination of events.

Disney-Pixar’s 2007 Ratatouille gave this name to an aspiring French chef – who happened to be a rat. Patton Oswalt voiced the unlikely gastronome.

But it wasn’t just Disney boosting the name.

There’s also American rapper Remy Ma, born Reminisce Smith, who had her first big successes around 2006. She starred on Love and Hip Hop: New York from 2015 through 2020.

Hip hop also gives us Remy Boyz – most famous thanks to their successful former member, the rapper known as Fetty Wap. In 2015, they had a huge hit with “679.” They took the name Remy Boyz from the cognac.

Either way, the name’s ties to music gives it an edge, while the Disney connection makes it feel playground-ready.

REMINGTON

In 1983, the name Remington debuted in the US Top 1000 for boys.

It came from a television series about a woman who invented a fictional male private detective when clients hesitated to hire a female P.I. 

She gave him the perfect name: Remington Steele. Remington for firearms manufacturer, and what’s stronger than Steele?

Eliphalet Remington founded his namesake business in 1816 in upstate New York. It remains a major manufacturer of guns and ammunition, the oldest in the US.

But the show wasn’t a hard-nosed drama. Remington Steele was more of a light-hearted romantic comedy layered over a police procedural. 

It launched the career of Pierce Brosnan – the con man who played Steele – as well as the character’s name.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME REMY?

The baby name Remington has ranked in the US Top 300 for boys since 2015. In 2014, it debuted in the girls’ Top 1000, and is nearly as popular for our daughters as our sons.

But how about Remy’s popularity?

In some cases, Remy and Remi are nicknames for Remington. (Or possibly another name.)

Looking at the name when used in full:

• Remi ranked #127 for girls as of 2023.
• Remy comes in at #390 for boys in 2023.
• In addition, Remy charts at #641 for girls.
• Lastly, Remi stands at #822 for boys.

In recent years, the name fits with so many trends:

• It’s a unisex R name, in the key of Riley and Rowan.
• The ties to fire arms and cognac make it a sort of epic name, along the lines of Blaze and Maverick.
• Ties to the Pixar animated film take it in a different direction. Just like Paw Patrol and Elena of Avalor launched plenty of names, Ratatouille likely helped this name feel more familiar.

WARMTH MEETS CHARM

From medieval France to a murine chef, Remy’s traveled far. 

Few of us will remember the 5th century saint who baptized the King of the Franks. And even the rapper and the fictional characters fade. 

But this name retains an appealing mix of warmth and sophistication. It’s compact and memorable, a name that sounds like popular choices but remains distinct. 

Remy is a name of contrasts. It’s grounded in European history, a medieval personal name that’s fresh and unexpected in the twenty-first century. It reads as sparky on a girl, charming for a boy. 

If you’re looking for a current choice with plenty of backstory, something that’s strong and creative at the same time, the versatile, surprising Remy is one to consider.

What do you think of the baby name Remy?

This post was originally published on January 23, 2009. It was revised on June 6, 2016 and November 4, 2024.