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Home › Baby Names Directory › Regan

Regan

♀ Girl

Pronounced REE-gun /ˈriː.ɡən/High

Meaning: little king, royally descendedMedium

In 30 seconds: Regan is an Irish name meaning little king or royally descended, borne by one of King Lear's daughters in Shakespeare. A crisp two-syllable name with royal literary pedigree.
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Origin HighIrish
Meaninglittle king, royally descended
U.S. rank (2025)#2295 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births80 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2001
Total births (all-time)≈ 16,306

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200119462025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Regan is the anglicized form of the Irish Riagán, meaning little king or royally descended (ri: king). It gained fame through Shakespeare's King Lear (c. 1606).

Regan has been used in Ireland and the Irish diaspora for centuries, growing in use for girls in the US in the late 20th century.

Did you know? In Shakespeare's King Lear, Regan is one of Lear's three daughters — a name associated with royal heritage and moral complexity for over 400 years.
Overall data confidence 82%
MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland — reference for ReganBehind the Name: Regan — name etymology reference

Variations

ReaganReeganReghan

Nicknames

Reg

Famous Bearers

  • ★Regan (fictional)
    One of King Lear's three daughters in Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear (c. 1606), known for her ruthlessness toward her father.

If you like Regan…

Reagan— most common variant spelling used for girls
Maeve— classic Irish feminine name of royal heritage
Quinn— Irish surname name used for girls
Ryan— Irish name used for girls

Explore names like Regan

By themesurname-nametwo-syllableirishliteraryroyal
By meaningRoyal / Noble

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Frequently Asked

What does Regan mean?

Regan means little king or royally descended, from the Irish Riagán (ri: king).

How do you pronounce Regan?

Regan is pronounced REE-gun (/ˈriː.ɡən/), with two syllables.

Is Regan a girl's name?

Regan is used for both boys and girls; it is increasingly used for girls.

How popular is the name Regan?

Regan has grown in use for girls since the late 20th century.

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