Remi
RE-mee
Remi is the modern French and English form of Rémi or Rémy, descended from the Latin Remigius.
The Latin name derives from remex, remigis, meaning “oarsman” or “rower,” from the verb remigare, “to row,” itself from remus meaning “oar.” The deeper root reaches Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁-, also the source of Greek eretmon for oar.
The name’s importance in European history rests on Saint Remigius of Reims (437-533), the bishop who baptized Clovis I, king of the Franks, on Christmas Day 496.
What the name Remi means
This conversion brought the Frankish kingdom into the Catholic fold and shaped the religious destiny of medieval France. Saint Rémi remains the patron saint of Reims, and the city’s Basilica of Saint-Rémi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The name has notable cultural presence. Hector Malot’s 1878 novel Sans Famille, known in English as Nobody’s Boy, features the orphan protagonist Rémi, a story adapted multiple times for film and television.
Rémy Martin, the cognac house founded in 1724, carries the name internationally. The Pixar film Ratatouille (2007) features the rat protagonist Remy, voiced by Patton Oswalt, which gave the name fresh visibility to younger audiences.
Historically masculine, Remi has shifted toward unisex usage in the United States. The feminine spelling entered the SSA girls’ top 1000 in 2015 and has climbed rapidly, reaching the top 250 by the early 2020s.
The masculine form remains common in France and francophone Africa, particularly Belgium and Quebec.
Notable bearers include footballer Rémi Garde and singer Remi Wolf. The name’s combination of French heritage, brevity, and gender flexibility has made it one of the more distinctive recent additions to the American name pool.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Remi
Remi - similar names
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity