Fun Facts About the Name Ronald
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 1,082,226 boys named Ronald from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Ronald stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 65 consecutive years, from 1926 through 1990.
- More than 1 million babies named Ronald: U.S. records list 1,086,071 babies given the name Ronald from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,845 girls received the name Ronald - about 1 girl for every 281 boys.
What Does the Name Ronald Mean?
Ronald is a Scottish masculine name derived from the Old Norse name Rǫgnvaldr (also written Rögnvaldr or Ragnvaldr). The Norse name is a compound of regin, meaning "counsel" or "advice," and valdr, meaning "ruler" or "lord." Taken literally, the elements suggest a sense like "counsel-ruler" or "ruler of counsel." The usual English meaning given is "ruler's counselor," a customary interpretation rather than a word-for-word translation. In some contexts regin can also mean "the gods" or "divine powers," so the precise original sense of the compound is not entirely certain. Ronald is cognate with the names Reginald and Reynold; all go back to the same Proto-Germanic compound *Raginawaldaz, though they entered English by different routes.
Ronald Name History & Origins
The Old Norse name Rǫgnvaldr was common in Scandinavia during the Viking Age and appears in runic inscriptions and medieval Icelandic writings. Norse settlers and Norse-Gaels brought it to the Northern Isles, the Hebrides, and mainland Scotland. In Scottish Gaelic it became Raghnall, and in Scots and English it became Ronald. The name was borne by medieval Scandinavian leaders, including Rǫgnvald Kali Kolsson, a twelfth-century Earl of Orkney who was later venerated as a saint. The name remained in use in northern Scotland.
From Scotland, Ronald spread into wider English usage. It was used in Scotland long before it became common in England, and by the nineteenth century it was established in other English-speaking countries as well. Later bearers include Ronald Reagan, the fortieth president of the United States, and the fictional Ronald Weasley in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. These modern associations are separate from the name's medieval Norse and Scottish development.
How Popular is the Name Ronald?
Ronald remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1926 to 1990. Its highest annual birth count was in 1947, and people born that year turn 79 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | #16,335 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #13,045 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #9,351 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #7,411 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #8,450 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #6,067 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #4,637 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #2,784 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1987 | #3,147 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1986 | #2,329 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1985 | #2,845 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1984 | #2,178 | 46 | 0.0027% |
| 1983 | #2,466 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1982 | #2,277 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1981 | #2,365 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1980 | #2,426 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1979 | #2,076 | 49 | 0.0031% |
| 1978 | #2,423 | 37 | 0.0024% |
| 1977 | #1,691 | 62 | 0.0040% |
| 1976 | #1,930 | 47 | 0.0032% |
| 1975 | #1,669 | 58 | 0.0040% |
| 1974 | #1,767 | 51 | 0.0035% |
| 1973 | #1,413 | 70 | 0.0048% |
| 1972 | #1,444 | 68 | 0.0045% |
| 1971 | #1,374 | 78 | 0.0047% |
| 1970 | #1,349 | 78 | 0.0045% |
| 1969 | #1,174 | 91 | 0.0054% |
| 1968 | #1,175 | 85 | 0.0052% |
| 1967 | #1,034 | 100 | 0.0061% |
| 1966 | #1,141 | 87 | 0.0051% |
| 1965 | #1,319 | 69 | 0.0039% |
| 1964 | #1,237 | 80 | 0.0042% |
| 1963 | #1,328 | 70 | 0.0036% |
| 1962 | #1,441 | 60 | 0.0031% |
| 1961 | #1,278 | 76 | 0.0038% |
| 1960 | #1,195 | 83 | 0.0041% |
| 1959 | #1,134 | 89 | 0.0044% |
| 1958 | #1,316 | 65 | 0.0032% |
| 1957 | #1,094 | 92 | 0.0045% |
| 1956 | #1,336 | 61 | 0.0030% |
| 1955 | #1,206 | 70 | 0.0036% |
| 1954 | #1,204 | 70 | 0.0036% |
| 1953 | #1,238 | 62 | 0.0033% |
| 1952 | #1,116 | 72 | 0.0039% |
| 1951 | #1,159 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 1950 | #1,121 | 68 | 0.0040% |
| 1949 | #978 | 84 | 0.0049% |
| 1948 | #1,054 | 71 | 0.0042% |
| 1947 | #1,046 | 73 | 0.0041% |
| 1946 | #856 | 94 | 0.0060% |
| 1945 | #1,058 | 55 | 0.0042% |
| 1944 | #1,002 | 61 | 0.0046% |
| 1943 | #913 | 73 | 0.0052% |
| 1942 | #885 | 78 | 0.0058% |
| 1941 | #1,001 | 54 | 0.0045% |
| 1940 | #951 | 58 | 0.0051% |
| 1939 | #973 | 54 | 0.0049% |
| 1938 | #887 | 64 | 0.0058% |
| 1937 | #928 | 56 | 0.0053% |
| 1936 | #1,034 | 46 | 0.0044% |
| 1935 | #972 | 51 | 0.0049% |
| 1934 | #903 | 58 | 0.0056% |
| 1933 | #1,259 | 33 | 0.0033% |
| 1932 | #1,094 | 43 | 0.0040% |
| 1931 | #1,161 | 39 | 0.0037% |
| 1930 | #1,230 | 38 | 0.0034% |
| 1929 | #1,519 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1928 | #1,771 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1927 | #2,085 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1926 | #2,450 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1925 | #3,086 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1924 | #5,754 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #3,086 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1919 | #5,433 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #638 | 438 | 0.0256% |
| 2024 | #575 | 495 | 0.0289% |
| 2023 | #612 | 457 | 0.0267% |
| 2022 | #559 | 532 | 0.0305% |
| 2021 | #562 | 504 | 0.0288% |
| 2020 | #559 | 502 | 0.0291% |
| 2019 | #528 | 540 | 0.0301% |
| 2018 | #491 | 587 | 0.0323% |
| 2017 | #462 | 659 | 0.0356% |
| 2016 | #429 | 728 | 0.0384% |
| 2015 | #434 | 704 | 0.0367% |
| 2014 | #394 | 791 | 0.0412% |
| 2013 | #401 | 745 | 0.0394% |
| 2012 | #378 | 797 | 0.0420% |
| 2011 | #341 | 889 | 0.0468% |
| 2010 | #343 | 913 | 0.0476% |
| 2009 | #341 | 926 | 0.0467% |
| 2008 | #307 | 1,089 | 0.0534% |
| 2007 | #293 | 1,175 | 0.0566% |
| 2006 | #249 | 1,374 | 0.0669% |
| 2005 | #255 | 1,302 | 0.0652% |
| 2004 | #232 | 1,450 | 0.0731% |
| 2003 | #237 | 1,406 | 0.0712% |
| 2002 | #227 | 1,521 | 0.0783% |
| 2001 | #212 | 1,652 | 0.0850% |
| 2000 | #203 | 1,750 | 0.0891% |
| 1999 | #186 | 1,872 | 0.0975% |
| 1998 | #182 | 1,847 | 0.0966% |
| 1997 | #164 | 2,096 | 0.1112% |
| 1996 | #156 | 2,229 | 0.1177% |
| 1995 | #146 | 2,402 | 0.1262% |
| 1994 | #137 | 2,563 | 0.1327% |
| 1993 | #122 | 2,882 | 0.1469% |
| 1992 | #112 | 3,222 | 0.1613% |
| 1991 | #101 | 3,670 | 0.1817% |
| 1990 | #97 | 3,899 | 0.1898% |
| 1989 | #85 | 4,111 | 0.2055% |
| 1988 | #79 | 4,172 | 0.2179% |
| 1987 | #73 | 4,153 | 0.2224% |
| 1986 | #75 | 4,224 | 0.2294% |
| 1985 | #71 | 4,299 | 0.2326% |
| 1984 | #67 | 4,506 | 0.2496% |
| 1983 | #64 | 4,702 | 0.2623% |
| 1982 | #60 | 5,208 | 0.2870% |
| 1981 | #59 | 5,538 | 0.3092% |
| 1980 | #58 | 5,757 | 0.3227% |
| 1979 | #54 | 5,693 | 0.3307% |
| 1978 | #55 | 5,759 | 0.3507% |
| 1977 | #53 | 6,026 | 0.3667% |
| 1976 | #49 | 6,459 | 0.4116% |
| 1975 | #46 | 7,063 | 0.4523% |
| 1974 | #42 | 7,666 | 0.4875% |
| 1973 | #40 | 8,328 | 0.5343% |
| 1972 | #32 | 9,503 | 0.5860% |
| 1971 | #31 | 11,618 | 0.6569% |
| 1970 | #29 | 13,617 | 0.7327% |
| 1969 | #29 | 14,619 | 0.8175% |
| 1968 | #25 | 15,415 | 0.8869% |
| 1967 | #24 | 16,442 | 0.9428% |
| 1966 | #24 | 16,954 | 0.9506% |
| 1965 | #24 | 17,617 | 0.9470% |
| 1964 | #24 | 18,842 | 0.9455% |
| 1963 | #23 | 19,781 | 0.9740% |
| 1962 | #25 | 19,964 | 0.9650% |
| 1961 | #24 | 20,841 | 0.9812% |
| 1960 | #21 | 21,701 | 1.0179% |
| 1959 | #21 | 23,122 | 1.0832% |
| 1958 | #19 | 24,822 | 1.1696% |
| 1957 | #17 | 27,211 | 1.2613% |
| 1956 | #15 | 27,723 | 1.3106% |
| 1955 | #18 | 26,173 | 1.2707% |
| 1954 | #15 | 27,624 | 1.3549% |
| 1953 | #15 | 27,714 | 1.4051% |
| 1952 | #15 | 27,801 | 1.4303% |
| 1951 | #12 | 29,048 | 1.5428% |
| 1950 | #12 | 29,908 | 1.6706% |
| 1949 | #11 | 31,497 | 1.7756% |
| 1948 | #10 | 33,524 | 1.9106% |
| 1947 | #11 | 34,900 | 1.9076% |
| 1946 | #10 | 31,856 | 1.9616% |
| 1945 | #10 | 23,664 | 1.7583% |
| 1944 | #10 | 25,514 | 1.8721% |
| 1943 | #9 | 29,240 | 2.0487% |
| 1942 | #9 | 27,136 | 1.9648% |
| 1941 | #9 | 24,407 | 1.9871% |
| 1940 | #10 | 20,740 | 1.7892% |
| 1939 | #10 | 19,835 | 1.7921% |
| 1938 | #10 | 20,297 | 1.8300% |
| 1937 | #11 | 18,140 | 1.7007% |
| 1936 | #12 | 16,918 | 1.6311% |
| 1935 | #12 | 15,489 | 1.4874% |
| 1934 | #11 | 14,088 | 1.3643% |
| 1933 | #12 | 12,061 | 1.2164% |
| 1932 | #16 | 11,143 | 1.0672% |
| 1931 | #27 | 6,726 | 0.6469% |
| 1930 | #37 | 5,635 | 0.5135% |
| 1929 | #45 | 4,479 | 0.4164% |
| 1928 | #50 | 3,969 | 0.3583% |
| 1927 | #63 | 3,116 | 0.2765% |
| 1926 | #88 | 2,283 | 0.2056% |
| 1925 | #104 | 1,674 | 0.1500% |
| 1924 | #130 | 1,360 | 0.1201% |
| 1923 | #142 | 1,148 | 0.1047% |
| 1922 | #147 | 1,042 | 0.0958% |
| 1921 | #154 | 992 | 0.0901% |
| 1920 | #168 | 832 | 0.0782% |
| 1919 | #171 | 784 | 0.0800% |
| 1918 | #176 | 751 | 0.0741% |
| 1917 | #165 | 766 | 0.0828% |
| 1916 | #167 | 723 | 0.0812% |
| 1915 | #155 | 763 | 0.0899% |
| 1914 | #163 | 541 | 0.0826% |
| 1913 | #167 | 417 | 0.0814% |
| 1912 | #191 | 302 | 0.0702% |
| 1911 | #218 | 136 | 0.0602% |
| 1910 | #215 | 118 | 0.0608% |
| 1909 | #225 | 93 | 0.0567% |
| 1908 | #247 | 75 | 0.0486% |
| 1907 | #218 | 88 | 0.0599% |
| 1906 | #226 | 76 | 0.0571% |
| 1905 | #279 | 51 | 0.0385% |
| 1904 | #271 | 50 | 0.0390% |
| 1903 | #254 | 52 | 0.0436% |
| 1902 | #271 | 49 | 0.0399% |
| 1901 | #266 | 42 | 0.0394% |
| 1900 | #348 | 40 | 0.0266% |
| 1899 | #352 | 27 | 0.0254% |
| 1898 | #388 | 26 | 0.0212% |
| 1897 | #319 | 34 | 0.0302% |
| 1896 | #416 | 23 | 0.0192% |
| 1895 | #389 | 25 | 0.0213% |
| 1894 | #415 | 21 | 0.0181% |
| 1893 | #818 | 8 | 0.0071% |
| 1892 | #493 | 17 | 0.0139% |
| 1891 | #755 | 8 | 0.0079% |
| 1890 | #411 | 20 | 0.0180% |
| 1889 | #663 | 10 | 0.0090% |
| 1888 | #521 | 15 | 0.0124% |
| 1887 | #735 | 8 | 0.0079% |
| 1886 | #534 | 13 | 0.0117% |
| 1884 | #601 | 11 | 0.0096% |
| 1883 | #868 | 6 | 0.0057% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
