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Reagan

♂ Boy

Pronounced RAY-guhn /ˈɹeɪ.ɡən/Medium

Meaning: from the Irish surname Ó Riagáin, "descendant of Riagán," with Riagán thought to mean "little king" or "impulsive"Medium

In 30 seconds: Reagan comes from the Irish surname Ó Riagáin, 'descendant of Riagán'. The root Riagán is thought to mean 'little king' or 'impulsive'.
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Origin MediumIrish
Meaningfrom the Irish surname Ó Riagáin, "descendant of Riagán," with Riagán thought to mean "little king" or "impulsive"
U.S. rank (2024)#1571 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births110 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2004
Total births (all-time)≈ 7,744

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200419132024

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

History & Origin

The name traces back to the Gaelic Ó Riagáin, marking descent from an ancestor called Riagán. That older name has been read as 'little king' or, alternatively, as 'impulsive', so a regal note and a spirited one both attach to it. Long an Irish surname, Reagan moved into use as a first name on its own.

The spellings Raegan and Regan reflect different ways of capturing the Irish sound in English. As a boy's name it keeps a strong, surname-style firmness.

Did you know? Reagan likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Reagan — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

RaeganRegan

Nicknames

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If you like Reagan…

Regan— a streamlined spelling of the same Ó Riagáin name
Raegan— a listed variant capturing Reagan's Irish sound
Keegan— shares the Irish Ó-surname pattern and sound family
Ronan— an Irish boy's name with the same Gaelic heritage

Frequently Asked

What does the name Reagan mean?

Reagan is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Reagan?

It's commonly said RAY-guhn /ˈɹeɪ.ɡən/.

Is Reagan a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Reagan is used as a boy name.

How popular is Reagan?

In 2024, Reagan ranked #1571 in the U.S. for boys, with 110 births recorded.