Ronnal
A unique variation of the name Ronald, possibly combining Ronald and Donna.
Name Census estimates that about 22 living Americans carry the first name Ronnal. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ronnal today is around 74 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ronnal births was 1945 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ronnal. 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 Ronnal is about 74 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ronnals were born before 1962.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ronnal. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
22
~ 1 in 15,579,743 Americans
Peak year
1945
6 babies that year
Average age
74
years old
1962 SSA rank
#4,523
Tracked since 1945
Popularity
Ronnal: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ronnal from the 1940s through to the 1960s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 22 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1940s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ronnal 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 Ronnal 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 Ronnal
The name Ronnal is believed to have originated from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Germanic peoples of Scandinavia during the Viking Age. It is derived from the Old Norse words "rún" meaning "secret" or "mystery" and "náll" meaning "brave" or "courageous." The name can be interpreted to mean "the brave keeper of secrets" or "the courageous guardian of mysteries."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ronnal dates back to the 9th century CE, when it was mentioned in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of historical tales and legends. In these sagas, Ronnal was often used as a name for warriors and seafarers, reflecting the Viking culture's emphasis on bravery and exploration.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ronnal. One of the earliest was Ronnal Thorvaldsson (c. 920 - 985), a Norwegian chieftain and explorer who is said to have led expeditions to Greenland and North America, predating the voyages of Leif Erikson. Another prominent figure was Ronnal the Wise (c. 1050 - 1120), a renowned Norse scholar and advisor to several Scandinavian kings.
During the Middle Ages, the name Ronnal gained some popularity in parts of Europe influenced by Norse culture. One notable figure from this period was Ronnal of Ghent (c. 1225 - 1290), a Flemish monk and philosopher who wrote extensively on the reconciliation of pagan and Christian beliefs.
In the 16th century, Ronnal Eriksson (1510 - 1578) was a Swedish military commander who played a significant role in the Northern Seven Years' War against Denmark and the Livonian Order. His bravery and strategic prowess earned him the nickname "the Lion of the North."
Another historical figure with the name Ronnal was Ronnal MacLeod (1670 - 1741), a Scottish Highland chief and poet whose works celebrated the culture and traditions of the Scottish Isles. His poems have been preserved as part of Scotland's rich literary heritage.
While the name Ronnal has waned in popularity over time, it has left an enduring mark on history, reflecting the courage, mystery, and cultural richness of the Norse and Viking traditions from which it originated.
People
Ronnal + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ronnal 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
Ronnal: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ronnal?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 22 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ronnal 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 15,579,743 US residents.
Is Ronnal a common name?
We classify Ronnal as "Very Rare". It ranks above 41.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 33 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ronnal most popular?
The single biggest year for Ronnal was 1945, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ronnal is about 74 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ronnal in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ronnal a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ronnal in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Ronnal still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ronnal in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ronnal can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Ronnal?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.