Reagan is a name of Irish origin, derived from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh. The surname itself is believed to have come from a location in County Laois called O'Raghallaugh, which means "O'Reilly's land" or "O'Raleigh's land." Over time, the name evolved into its current spelling of Reagan.
The meaning behind the name Reagan is not entirely clear, but it is often associated with several possible interpretations. One suggestion is that it means "little king" or "small king," which could be a reference to power and authority. Another interpretation is that it means "from the little promontory," possibly referring to a piece of land jutting out into a body of water.
The name Reagan has a long history in Ireland, with many notable figures throughout history bearing this name. One of the most famous was Ronald Reagan, who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Born Ronald Wilson Reagan, he adopted the nickname "Dutch" early on in his career and later changed his middle name to Reagan after his father's birth surname.
Today, Reagan is a popular given name for both boys and girls in English-speaking countries. It has been consistently ranked among the top 1,000 names in the United States since the late 20th century, with peaks in popularity during the 1980s and early 1990s.
In conclusion, Reagan is an Irish surname that has evolved into a popular given name. Its meaning remains unclear but is often associated with interpretations related to power or geography. Throughout history, many notable figures have borne this name, including former US President Ronald Reagan. Today, it continues to be widely used as both a boy's and girl's name in English-speaking countries.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends regarding the number of babies named Reagan born annually in the United States over the past five decades:
* The popularity of the name Reagan began to rise significantly during the late 1990s. From 1996 onwards, the number of births with this name exceeded double digits each year.
* Between 2000 and 2005, the name Reagan reached its peak popularity, with an average of 30 births per year. The highest point was in 2004 when there were 30 births.
* Starting from 2006, there has been a consistent decrease in the number of babies named Reagan born annually in the United States. This decline has continued until recently, with only five births recorded in 2023.
* Despite this steady decrease, Reagan remains a popular choice among parents, as indicated by the relatively stable birth numbers since the late 1990s.
Overall, these statistics demonstrate that while Reagan was once a highly popular baby name in the United States, its popularity has significantly declined over time.