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Ronald

♂ Boy

Pronounced RON-uld /ˈrɒn.əld/High

Meaning: From the Old Norse name Rögnvaldr, composed of regin meaning counsel or decision and valdr meaning ruler; introduced to Scotland and Britain by Norse settlersHigh

In 30 seconds: A sturdy two-syllable Old Norse name meaning ruler's counselor, Ronald was a mid-20th-century staple in the English-speaking world and remains warmly familiar.
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Origin HighOld Norse, Scottish
MeaningFrom the Old Norse name Rögnvaldr, composed of regin meaning counsel or decision and valdr meaning ruler; introduced to Scotland and Britain by Norse settlers
U.S. rank (2025)#638 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births438 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1947
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,082,226

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 194718832025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ronald is the anglicized form of the Scottish name Ranald or Ranulf, itself derived from the Old Norse Rögnvaldr, a compound of regin (counsel) and valdr (ruler). Norse settlers carried the name to Scotland and northern England during the Viking Age, where it took root among Scottish clans, particularly Clan MacDonald, whose traditional chief's name was Ranald.

Ronald entered the broader English-speaking world in the 19th century and surged dramatically in the 20th, ranking among the top ten American boys' names through much of the 1940s and 1950s. President Ronald Reagan kept the name in public consciousness through the 1980s. Today Ronald reads as a retro classic, with parents of younger generations occasionally reviving it as a grandfather's tribute name.

Did you know? Ronald became one of the most popular names in mid-20th-century America, partly aided by President Ronald Reagan and actor Ronald Colman, but its roots stretch back to Viking-age Scotland.
Overall data confidence 92%
Behind the Name — Ronald — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

RanaldRonaldoRenaldRonall

Nicknames

RonRonnie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)
    40th President of the United States.
  • ★Ronald Colman (1891–1958)
    British-American film actor and Academy Award winner for A Double Life.

If you like Ronald…

Donald— shares the -ald suffix and the same mid-century all-American popularity arc
Gerald— another -ald name with Old Germanic roots and the same vintage charm
Leonard— fellow classic two-syllable retro name with a strong, grounded feel
Harold— Old Norse-rooted name with the same mid-century American heyday

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ronald mean?

Ronald comes from the Old Norse Rögnvaldr, meaning counsel and ruler combined — roughly 'mighty counselor' or 'ruler's advisor.'

How do you pronounce Ronald?

It is said RON-uld /ˈrɒn.əld/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Ronald an old-fashioned name?

Ronald peaked in the 1940s–50s in the U.S. and is now considered a retro classic, occasionally chosen as a tribute name.

What are good nicknames for Ronald?

The most common short forms are Ron and Ronnie.