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The short answer
Reagan is used as a given name for both sexes but ranks in the current US top names only for girls. Behind the Name traces it to an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Riagáin, derived from the given name Riagán; that surname was borne by American actor and president Ronald Reagan. As a first name it took off in the 1990s, more often for girls, likely due to its resemblance to Megan and Morgan. It is pronounced RAY-gən. In the United States it ranked #248 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Reagan as "from an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Riagáin, derived from the given name Riagán", noting the surname was "borne by American actor and president Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)". As a given name it "took off in popularity during the 1990s" and "has been more common for girls in the United States probably because of its similarity to other names such as Megan, Morgan and Regan". The underlying meaning of Riagán itself is not documented in the sources used for this profile.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Irish | Riagán | not verified |
| English | Reagan (surname) | descendant of Riagán |
Popularity
Reagan ranked #248 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name's cached entry does not include a numeric ranking.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #248 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Raegan, Regan
Related names: Megan, Morgan, Regan
What the name feels like
Reagan reads as a crisp, modern surname-name with a strong political association through Ronald Reagan, though Behind the Name notes its use as a first name is driven more by sound (echoing Megan and Morgan) than by that history.
Style tags: surname name, modern, two syllables
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Reagan's surname-name shape or its sound.
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Reagan mean?
Reagan comes from an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Riagáin, derived from the given name Riagán, whose own meaning is not documented in the sources used here.
Is Reagan a boy or girl name?
Behind the Name lists Reagan as used for both sexes, but notes it has been more common for girls in the United States, likely due to its similarity to Megan and Morgan. It ranked #248 among girls' names in the US in 2025.
Is Reagan named after President Ronald Reagan?
The Reagan surname was borne by Ronald Reagan, but Behind the Name attributes the given name's 1990s rise mainly to its sound resembling Megan and Morgan, not directly to the president.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Reagan — supports etymology, pronunciation, variants, history.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
