Girl
Irish
2 syllables
Regan
REE-gun
/ˈriːɡən/
"The little ruler" — a Shakespearean name of quiet authority, Irish depth, and modern cool
Regan is an Irish surname with royal etymology, derived from the Old Irish Riagan meaning 'little king' or 'royal.' It is most famous in English literature as one of King Lear's daughters in Shakespeare's tragedy—a complex, morally ambiguous character whose name has nonetheless been adopted with enthusiasm as a given name. Regan has a clean, decisive sound that works well for both sexes, though in the United States it has been used primarily as a girl's name since the 1970s.
Quick Facts
Letters5
SyllablesRe · gan
GenderGirl
OriginIrish
Root WordRiagan
MeaningLittle king, royal
PopularityCommon
Peak Year1997
Trend
→ Stable
Nicknames
ReeReggie
About the Name Regan
Regan means 'little king' or 'royal,' derived from the Old Irish Riagan, a diminutive of the Irish word for king (ri). The name thus carries connotations of inherent authority, nobility, and leadership. Despite the small-scale root ('little king'), the name projects quiet confidence and natural command.
Yes, Regan is one of King Lear's three daughters in Shakespeare's tragedy, along with Goneril and Cordelia. Regan is portrayed as treacherous and cruel, which gave the name some negative literary associations. However, most modern parents choose it simply for its sound and Irish heritage, with few thinking of its Shakespearean origins.
Regans are often described as assertive, intelligent, and self-possessed. The name has an edge of quiet authority—someone who doesn't need to shout to make themselves heard. People named Regan tend to be perceptive, direct, and comfortable in leadership roles.
Regan (and its variant Reagan) peaked in the 1990s in the United States, influenced partly by the Reagan political era. Regan specifically is less common than Reagan/Raegan but remains a recognizable name in the mid-range of popularity. It is used for both girls and boys but skews female in the US.
Regan's two clean syllables pair well with both short and longer middle names. Great combinations include Regan Rose, Regan Ann, Regan Marie, Regan Claire, and Regan Elise. For something with more personality, Regan Paige, Regan Blair, or Regan Jade complement the name's confident character beautifully.
Regan comes from the Irish surname O'Regan (O Riagain), which derives from the Old Irish personal name Riagan, meaning little king. The surname was prominent in County Cork and surrounding areas in Ireland. It entered use as a given name in the English-speaking world primarily in the twentieth century, used more commonly in the United States than in Ireland itself.
Personality of Regan
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Regan
Creativity
78%
Elegance
76%
Independence
88%
Intelligence
86%
Strength
84%
Warmth
70%
Famous People Named Regan
R
Regan (King Lear)
One of King Lear's three daughters in Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear
R
Regan MacNeil
The possessed child protagonist of William Peter Blatty's novel The Exorcist
R
Regan (Ronald Reagan)
The surname of the 40th US President, associated with the Regan/Reagan boom
R
Regan Burns
American comedian and actor
Middle Names for Regan
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Regan
Regan Rose
Regan Ann
Regan Marie
Regan Grace
Regan Claire
Regan Elise
Regan Leigh
Regan Lynn
Regan Nicole
Regan Paige
Regan Blair
Regan Jade
Names Similar to Regan
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Regan
800 AD
O'Regan (O Riagain) emerges as a prominent Irish sept name
1606
Shakespeare uses Regan for one of Lear's daughters in King Lear
1971
The Exorcist novel uses Regan for its young protagonist, bringing the name to dark fame
1980
Ronald Reagan's election to the US presidency triggers increased use of Reagan/Regan
1990s
Regan peaks in US popularity as a girl's given name
Numerology & Symbolism of Regan
9
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
6
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Aries
9
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Forest Green
💎
Lucky Stone
Emerald
🌸
Lucky Flower
Thistle
Regan Around the World
How Regan is written in different languages and scripts
ريغان
Arabic
リーガン
Japanese
Риган
Russian
리건
Korean
里根
Chinese
Ρίγκαν
Greek
रीगन
Hindi
ריגן
Hebrew
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