Ronnel
A masculine name of French origin that may mean "bear small ruler".
Name Census estimates that about 241 living Americans carry the first name Ronnel. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ronnel today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ronnel births was 1983 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ronnel. 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.
People living today
241
~ 1 in 1,422,217 Americans
Peak year
1983
12 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
2018 SSA rank
#10,524
Tracked since 1941
Popularity
Ronnel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ronnel from the 1940s through to the 2010s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 71 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ronnel 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 Ronnel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ronnels live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ronnel
The name Ronnel is believed to have originated from the French language, derived from the Old French word "ronnel," which means "a small round object." This likely refers to the round shape of a small stone or pebble. The name's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th century, when it was commonly used in France and other parts of Western Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ronnel can be found in the 13th-century French epic poem "Le Roman de la Rose" (The Romance of the Rose), written by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun. In this literary work, a character named Ronnel is mentioned, although the context and significance of this character remain unclear.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ronnel. One of the most prominent figures was Ronnel de Godefroi (born around 1140, died 1192), a French knight and crusader who participated in the Third Crusade. He was known for his bravery and valor on the battlefield.
Another historical figure with the name Ronnel was Ronnel de Montauban (born around 1185, died 1242), a French nobleman and military commander who served under King Louis VIII of France during the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathar heretics in southern France.
In the 14th century, there was a Ronnel de Chambly (born around 1310, died 1378), a French architect and master mason who was involved in the construction of several notable Gothic cathedrals and churches in France, including the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris.
Moving forward in history, Ronnel de Boucicaut (born around 1365, died 1421) was a famous French knight and military leader who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the English. He was renowned for his prowess on the battlefield and his chivalrous conduct.
Lastly, Ronnel de Beaumont (born around 1420, died 1478) was a French nobleman and diplomat who served as the ambassador of King Louis XI of France to several European courts, including those of England and Burgundy.
These examples illustrate the historical presence and usage of the name Ronnel, primarily among the French nobility and military ranks during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period. While the name's popularity may have waned over time, its origins and historical significance remain an intriguing aspect of its legacy.
People
Ronnel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ronnel 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
Ronnel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ronnel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 241 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ronnel 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 1,422,217 US residents.
Is Ronnel a common name?
We classify Ronnel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 269 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ronnel most popular?
The single biggest year for Ronnel was 1983, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ronnel is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ronnel a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ronnel 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.
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.