Ronalee
A feminine name potentially derived from the Irish name "Rónadh" meaning reddish brown.
Name Census estimates that about 152 living Americans carry the first name Ronalee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ronalee today is around 65 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ronalee births was 1963 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ronalee. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Ronalee is about 65 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ronalees were born before 1971.
People living today
152
~ 1 in 2,254,963 Americans
Peak year
1963
17 babies that year
Average age
65
years old
1986 SSA rank
#8,313
Tracked since 1939
Popularity
Ronalee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ronalee from the 1930s through to the 1980s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 84 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ronalee by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ronalee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ronalee
The name Ronalee is a relatively modern invention, likely originating in the 20th century as a combination of the names Ronald and Lee. Given its construction, it appears to have roots in English-speaking cultures, potentially influenced by Scottish or English naming traditions.
The first element, "Ron," is a shortened form of the name Ronald, which derives from the Old Norse name Rögnvaldr, composed of the elements "rögnr" (ruling council) and "valdr" (ruler). This name enjoyed popularity in Scotland and was later adopted in England. The second element, "Lee," is a common English surname derived from Old English words meaning "meadow" or "clearing," often used as a given name in its own right.
While there are no known historical references or ancient texts mentioning the name Ronalee specifically, its component parts have a rich history. Ronald was the name of several Scottish kings and noblemen, including Ronald, Lord of the Isles (c. 1336–1386), and Ronald Crawford, a 16th-century Scottish writer and diplomat.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Ronalee itself are likely from the early to mid-20th century, though precise dates are difficult to pinpoint. Some notable individuals who have borne the name Ronalee include:
1. Ronalee Bowers, an American actress and model active in the 1950s and 1960s.
2. Ronalee Grossbier, a Canadian artist and painter born in 1931.
3. Ronalee Kline, an American golfer who competed in the 1980s and 1990s.
4. Ronalee Crocker, an American politician who served as a member of the Montana House of Representatives in the late 20th century.
5. Ronalee Newitz, an American journalist and author born in the late 1960s.
While the name Ronalee has gained some popularity in recent decades, it remains relatively uncommon, especially compared to its more traditional components, Ronald and Lee. Its unique blend of Scottish, English, and modern influences makes it a distinctive choice in the world of given names.
People
Ronalee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ronalee as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ronalee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ronalee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 152 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ronalee going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,254,963 US residents.
Is Ronalee a common name?
We classify Ronalee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 215 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ronalee most popular?
The single biggest year for Ronalee was 1963, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ronalee is about 65 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ronalee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ronalee in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.