Find out how popular the first name Reagan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Reagan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Reagan is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 90% of people named Reagan being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,721 female babies and 115 male babies born with the name Reagan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 115 baby boys were named Reagan in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Reagan

The name Reagan has its origins in the Irish Gaelic language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Irish word "Riagain," which means "little king" or "descendant of the king." This name was commonly used in Ireland and its surrounding regions during the medieval period.

In ancient Irish texts and historical records, the name Reagan was associated with several notable figures, including Irish chieftains and warriors. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.

Throughout history, there have been several famous individuals who bore the name Reagan. One of the most prominent was Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, who served from 1981 to 1989. Born in 1911 in Tampico, Illinois, Reagan had a distinguished career as an actor before entering politics.

Another notable figure was John Reagan, an American diplomat and lawyer who served as the United States Minister to Portugal from 1841 to 1844. He was born in 1808 in Sevier County, Tennessee, and played a significant role in negotiating treaties with Portugal during his tenure as a diplomat.

In the literary world, the name Reagan is associated with the Irish poet and writer Thomas MacDonagh, who was born in 1878 in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary. MacDonagh, whose full name was Thomas MacDonagh Ó Raghallaigh, was a prominent figure in the Irish literary revival and was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916.

In the world of sports, there was Reagan Foxx, an American basketball player who played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for several teams, including the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm. She was born in 1978 in Greenville, South Carolina, and had a successful career spanning over a decade.

Another notable figure with the name Reagan was Reagan Wilson, an American actress best known for her roles in television shows like "The Office" and "Bones." She was born in 1983 in Atlanta, Georgia, and has appeared in numerous films and television productions throughout her career.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Reagan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Reagan, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!