Reagan Unisex

Popularity: #230 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: RAY-gun //ˈreɪɡən//

Origin: Irish; English

Meaning: Irish: 'descendant of Raghnaid'; English: 'regal'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Reagan has its roots in the Irish language, derived from the Gaelic surname "Ó Riagáin," which means "descendant of Riagán." The name Riagán itself is believed to be derived from the word "riag," meaning "impulsive" or "active." This surname was historically associated with a notable family in Ireland, particularly in the province of Munster, where it was borne by various chieftains and local leaders. The transition of the name into a given name occurred in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as surnames began to be adopted as first names, a trend that gained momentum in the late 1900s.

Historically, the name Reagan has been linked to various cultural and political figures, most notably Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, who served from 1981 to 1989. His presidency was marked by significant events such as the Cold War's conclusion and substantial economic changes in the U.S.

This association has contributed to the name's recognition and resonance in American culture, although it is essential to note that the name's origins predate this association by centuries. Culturally, the name Reagan carries connotations of strength and leadership, reflecting its historical ties to influential figures in Irish history.

The name has also been embraced in literature and media, further embedding it within cultural narratives. In addition to its use as a standalone name, diminutive forms such as "Rae" have emerged, offering a softer alternative while maintaining the name's original essence.

Overall, Reagan's journey from a Gaelic surname to a modern given name illustrates the dynamic interplay between language, culture, and identity.

Fictional characters named Reagan

The following list of fictional characters named Reagan is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Reagan is a fictional character from the video game series Fire Emblem. They are a key figure in the story, often involved in political intrigue and battles.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Reagan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Reagan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Reagan was first seen in the United States in 1956.

Reagan has ranked as high as #224 nationally, which occurred in 2016, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Reagan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Reagan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Reagan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Reagan (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 100
8%
CA 97
8%
OH 71
6%
FL 66
5%
VA 62
5%
PA 61
5%
NY 58
5%
NC 51
4%
GA 48
4%
TN 44
4%
NJ 42
3%
IL 40
3%
MO 34
3%
AZ 29
2%
WA 29
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Reagan.

YearBirths
20241,292
20231,727
20221,988
20212,242
20202,371
20192,753
20182,819
20173,005
20163,096
20153,060
20142,903
20133,040
20123,088
20112,611
20102,480
20092,540
20082,385
20072,261
20062,238
20052,425
20042,269
20031,657
20021,624
20011,445
20001,131
1999865
1998889
1997695
1996567
1995399
1994298
1993199
1992140
1991124
199088
198981
198872
198759
198654
198559
198460
198357
198255
1981110
1980161
1979139
1978167
1977146
1976110
1975133
197470
197352
197220
197123
197020
196923
196819
196713
196615
196511
196422
196312
19567