What was Rembrandt’s full birth name?

Rembrandt’s full birth name was Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.

He was baptized on 15 July 1606 in Leiden, in the Dutch Republic. “Harmenszoon” means “son of Harmen,” while “van Rijn” refers to the Rhine River, which flowed near Leiden. Rembrandt later became famous under his first name alone, an unusual choice that helped make his artistic identity instantly recognizable.

His father, Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn, was a miller, and his mother was Neeltgen Willemsdochter van Zuijtbrouck. Rembrandt came from a relatively prosperous family and briefly attended Leiden University before pursuing art.

The name is sometimes shortened incorrectly to “Rembrandt van Rijn,” which is the form most commonly used in modern references. His given name was Rembrandt, and his full patronymic name identifies him as Harmen’s son. He generally did not use a fixed surname in the modern sense.