Reagan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Reagan has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Reagan

A feminine English name from a surname derived from the Irish surname Ó Riagáin meaning "little ruler".

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 2024, there were 1,292 female babies and 110 male babies born with the name Reagan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 110 baby boys were named Reagan in 2024, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

YearMale CountFemale Count
20241101,292
20231151,721
20221431,982
20211642,239
20201602,369
20191952,751
20182022,816
20172133,004
20162043,095
20152073,058
20142062,902
20132093,039
20122343,087
20112322,610
20102032,479
20092112,539
20082042,385
20072472,261
20062602,238
20052992,425
20043662,269
20032001,657
20022231,624
20012351,445
20001801,131
1999190865
1998153889
1997166695
1996140567
1995120399
199485298
199374199
199249140
199146124
19905288
19894279
19884472
19873859
19863254
19853559
19842859
19833157
19823155
198150111
198058161
197945139
197853167
197755146
197627110
197538133

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!

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.

Search
Search
Background shape