Reagan is an Irish surname-name with roots in the Old Irish Ó Riagáin, meaning "descendant of Riagán" — a name possibly derived from a word meaning "impulsive" or "little king." With 7,744 total SSA records and a peak year of 2004, Reagan has been used primarily for boys but has shifted substantially toward girls over the past two decades. On the boys' side, it sits at rank 1,571 — rare enough to feel unexpected.
Irish Roots and the Presidential Association
Reagan as a given name became dramatically more visible in the United States after Ronald Reagan's presidency (1981-1989). The presidential naming effect is real and well-documented: names of popular presidents often see upticks in subsequent birth cohorts. Reagan's surge in the early 2000s — nearly two decades after the presidency , may reflect a second wave of political nostalgia rather than a direct contemporaneous effect. Irish surname-names like Reagan, Flynn, and Brady have a particular American quality: Irish heritage claimed through naming, regardless of whether the family has Irish ancestry.
Reagan as a Boys' Name Today
The gender shift is the defining story of Reagan's recent naming history. In 2004, when the name peaked, it was used substantially more for boys. By the late 2010s, the girls' side had overtaken it significantly. A boy named Reagan today will carry a name that most of his generation associates with girls , which some families find perfectly fine, and others find worth considering. Reagan sits alongside Logan and Riley as names that have completed or are completing a male-to-female majority transition.
The Counter-Reading: Navigating the Political Load
Ronald Reagan is a polarizing historical figure, and for some families the presidential association will be a meaningful positive; for others, it's a reason to look elsewhere. The name works independently of the politics , its Irish roots and -an ending give it a clean, modern sound , but the association is unavoidable in American contexts. Reagan versus Finn for a boy who wants Irish heritage without the presidential shadow is one useful comparison.