Renaud

Renaud is a French masculine given name, and less commonly a surname. The name derives from medieval Germanic forms such as Reinwald or Reynald, built from elements meaning counsel or advice and power or rule. In French medieval and early modern usage it yielded variants such as Renaut and Renard, and over time contributed to surnames including Renault. The name remains most common in French-speaking regions and has occasionally spread to other cultures.

Notable people with the given name Renaud include the French singer-songwriter known simply as Renaud, famous for songs such as Mistral gagnant and Laisse béton. Other contemporary figures named Renaud include violinist Renaud Capuçon, pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, politician Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, and jazz bassist Renaud Garcia-Fons. The given name is used across various fields, including music, sports, and public life.

As a surname, Renaud appears in Francophone contexts, with Renault representing a closely related variant that has become widely known through the Renault automobile brand, named after the family surname. While Renault is distinct in spelling, it shares the same roots with Renaud and reflects the common practice of surnames evolving from given names in French-speaking regions.

See also Renault; Renaut; Renard.