Reagan first name popularity, history and meaning

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.

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 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!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 115 1,721
2022 143 1,982
2021 164 2,239
2020 160 2,369
2019 195 2,751
2018 202 2,816
2017 213 3,004
2016 204 3,095
2015 207 3,058
2014 206 2,902
2013 209 3,039
2012 234 3,087
2011 232 2,610
2010 203 2,479
2009 211 2,539
2008 204 2,385
2007 247 2,261
2006 260 2,238
2005 299 2,425
2004 366 2,269
2003 200 1,657
2002 223 1,624
2001 235 1,445
2000 180 1,131
1999 190 865
1998 153 889
1997 166 695
1996 140 567
1995 120 399
1994 85 298
1993 74 199
1992 49 140
1991 46 124
1990 52 88
1989 42 79
1988 44 72
1987 38 59
1986 32 54
1985 35 59
1984 28 59
1983 31 57
1982 31 55
1981 50 111
1980 58 161
1979 45 139
1978 53 167
1977 55 146
1976 27 110
1975 38 133
1974 35 70

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.

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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!

"Reagan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 3, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/reagan-meaning-and-history/.

"Reagan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/reagan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 3 November, 2024

Reagan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/reagan-meaning-and-history/.

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