Regis Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: REH-jis //ˈrɛdʒɪs//
Origin: Latin; French
Meaning: Latin: 'kingly'; French: 'of the king'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Regis has its roots in the Latin word "rex," meaning "king." This etymological origin reflects a lineage that traces back to the Roman Empire, where the term was used to denote rulers and sovereigns. The transition into the name Regis occurred through the adaptation of Latin into various Romance languages, where it evolved into forms such as "Regis" in Old French and later entered the English lexicon.
The name is often associated with nobility and authority, encapsulating the essence of kingship in its very structure. Historically, the name Regis has been borne by various notable figures, particularly in the context of Christian saints.
One of the most significant is Saint Regis, a 17th-century Jesuit priest known for his missionary work in France and his dedication to education and the poor. His canonization in the 19th century further solidified the name's association with virtuous leadership and moral integrity.
Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and documents, reflecting its enduring presence in European culture. Culturally, Regis has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing strength, leadership, and dignity.
The name's royal connotations have made it a favored choice among those wishing to evoke a sense of nobility. In some contexts, diminutive forms such as Reggie have emerged, though these are more contemporary adaptations.
Overall, the name Regis carries a weight of historical significance, embodying the qualities of leadership and reverence that have persisted through centuries.
Famous people named Regis
In this section, you will find notable people named Regis. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Regis who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Regis who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Regis Philbin was a television personality best known for Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and America's Got Talent.
Regis Toomey was an actor best known for The Maltese Falcon, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and The Big Sleep.
Fictional characters named Regis
The following list of fictional characters named Regis 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.
Regis is a fictional character from the book series The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski. He is a powerful vampire and a key ally to the protagonist, Geralt of Rivia.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Regis, 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 Regis. 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 Regis was first seen in the United States in 1897.
Regis has ranked as high as #754 nationally, which occurred in 1917, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, California, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Regis has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Regis 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 Regis was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Regis (2005)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |
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 Regis.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 1999 | 16 |
| 1998 | 16 |
| 1997 | 19 |
| 1996 | 26 |
| 1995 | 31 |
| 1994 | 23 |
| 1993 | 34 |
| 1992 | 52 |
| 1991 | 47 |
| 1990 | 67 |
| 1989 | 66 |
| 1988 | 45 |
| 1987 | 50 |
| 1986 | 45 |
| 1985 | 47 |
| 1984 | 26 |
| 1983 | 35 |
| 1982 | 35 |
| 1981 | 31 |
| 1980 | 21 |
| 1979 | 19 |
| 1978 | 26 |
| 1977 | 24 |
| 1976 | 30 |
| 1975 | 17 |
| 1974 | 31 |
| 1973 | 20 |
| 1972 | 19 |
| 1971 | 37 |
| 1970 | 34 |
| 1969 | 35 |
| 1968 | 44 |
| 1967 | 44 |
| 1966 | 27 |
| 1965 | 44 |
| 1964 | 58 |
| 1963 | 48 |
| 1962 | 49 |
| 1961 | 46 |
| 1960 | 46 |
| 1959 | 48 |
| 1958 | 55 |
| 1957 | 68 |
| 1956 | 52 |
| 1955 | 72 |
| 1954 | 67 |
| 1953 | 85 |
| 1952 | 66 |
| 1951 | 82 |
| 1950 | 72 |
| 1949 | 88 |
| 1948 | 82 |
| 1947 | 86 |
| 1946 | 91 |
| 1945 | 75 |
| 1944 | 79 |
| 1943 | 84 |
| 1942 | 93 |
| 1941 | 87 |
| 1940 | 73 |
| 1939 | 68 |
| 1938 | 73 |
| 1937 | 80 |
| 1936 | 79 |
| 1935 | 66 |
| 1934 | 80 |
| 1933 | 65 |
| 1932 | 71 |
| 1931 | 80 |
| 1930 | 72 |
| 1929 | 68 |
| 1928 | 69 |
| 1927 | 58 |
| 1926 | 67 |
| 1925 | 59 |
| 1924 | 57 |
| 1923 | 72 |
| 1922 | 87 |
| 1921 | 70 |
| 1920 | 72 |
| 1919 | 54 |
| 1918 | 62 |
| 1917 | 98 |
| 1916 | 64 |
| 1915 | 60 |
| 1914 | 51 |
| 1913 | 33 |
| 1912 | 26 |
| 1911 | 22 |
| 1910 | 14 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1908 | 9 |
| 1907 | 5 |
| 1906 | 6 |
| 1905 | 5 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1901 | 7 |
| 1900 | 5 |
| 1897 | 5 |