Renatus

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Renatus is a first name of Latin origin which means "born again" (natus = born).

The name has a spiritual meaning, i.e., to be born again with baptism, i.e., from water and the Holy Spirit. It was extensively adopted by early Christians in ancient Rome, due to the importance of baptism. The onomastic is Saint Renatus, a martyr, Bishop of Sorrento in the 5th century, who is celebrated on 6 October.

In Persian Mithraism, which spread widely in the West as a religion of the soldiers and officials under the Roman Empire, persons initiated into its mysteries were designated renatus (with the meaning of regenerated).

Notable people with this forename include:

• Renatus Cartesius (1596–1650), also known as René Descartes, French philosopher, mathematician, scientist and writer
• Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, Later Roman Empire writer (4th century)
• Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus, historian (5th century)
• Renatus of Châlon (1519–1544), Prince of the House of Orange
• Renatus Harris (c. 1652–1724), English master organ maker