What was Rembrandt’s first name in the signature he adopted in 1633?

Rembrandt adopted the single-name signature “Rembrandt” in 1633.

Earlier works were signed with forms of his name such as “RHL,” derived from Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, and later “RHL” combined with other variations. In 1633, he began signing works simply as Rembrandt, a practice that emphasized his artistic identity.

The choice was unusual but not unprecedented. Artists sometimes used a distinctive single name or monogram to make their work recognizable. Rembrandt’s simplified signature became an important part of his public persona and is now one of the most recognizable artist names in Western art.

His full name was Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. The word “Harmenszoon” means “son of Harmen,” while “van Rijn” refers to the Rhine. The question concerns his adopted artistic signature, not his full given name.