The nameRonald
Ronald is a Scottish form of Reginald. It was a top 10 name in America in the 1940s.
- Boy's name
- Norse
Meaning
Ronald comes from the Old Norse Rögnvaldr, from regin, "advice, the gods", and valdr, "ruler".
Origin
Norse, through Scotland.
History
The Vikings brought the name to Scotland. Ronald was in the American top 10 from 1938 to 1948. Ronald Reagan, the 40th president, is its best known bearer.
Did you know?
- Before politics, Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Famous people named Ronald
- Ronald Reagan, president of the United States
- Ronald Koeman, footballer
- Ronald Colman, actor
Popularity of the name Ronald
Ronald in the United States
Ronald was most popular in the United States in the 1940s, with 283,179 births over the decade, 26% of all recorded babies named Ronald. Its rise began around 1928, and it peaked in 1947. Half of all babies named Ronald in the United States were born before 1953, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 498 births a year on average, against 644 in the five years before.
Ronald in the United Kingdom
Ronald was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 458 births over the decade, 38% of all recorded babies named Ronald. Half of all babies named Ronald in the United Kingdom were born before 2015, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 56 births a year.
Ronald in Ireland
Ronald in France
Ronald in Austria
Ronald in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Ronald
Names from the same generation as Ronald, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Ronald? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Ronald with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Ronald side by side with the name of your choice.
Ronald in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ronald mean?
Ronald comes from the Old Norse Rögnvaldr, from regin, "advice, the gods", and valdr, "ruler".
What is the origin of the name Ronald?
Norse, through Scotland.
Is Ronald a girl's or a boy's name?
Ronald is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Ronald?
In 2024, Ronald was the 575th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 495 births.
What are the variants of the name Ronald?
Variants and related names of Ronald include Ronnie and Rony.
What are good sibling names for Ronald?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Julie, Veronica, Jessie and Priscilla for a sister, Gregory, Raul, Roberto and Ruben for a brother.
Who are famous people named Ronald?
Ronald Reagan, president of the United States; Ronald Koeman, footballer; Ronald Colman, actor.