Regan
Regan is a girl's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Little king or descendant of Riagán.
Origin and history
Regan is a name of Irish Gaelic origin, derived from the surname Ó Riagáin meaning descendant of Riagán. It gained significant cultural recognition as one of King Lear's daughters in Shakespeare's tragedy. In the United States, it has been steadily used as a given name for girls throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Popularity in the United States
16,307 babies in the United States have been named Regan since 1880. It ranks #1202 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1512.
States where it is most popular
- TX (9.7 %)
- CA (8.4 %)
- OH (7.4 %)
- PA (5.2 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 42 |
| 1950-1960 | 163 |
| 1960-1970 | 359 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,425 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,273 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,912 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,042 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,500 |
| 2020-2029 | 591 |
Famous people named Regan
- Regan MacNeil: Fictional Character
Fun facts
- Regan is famously known as the name of the cold-hearted middle daughter of the titular monarch in William Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear.
- The name stems from the Irish personal name Riagán, which is believed to mean little king or impulse.