Raegan

Meaning & origin

Raegan is a modern phonetic respelling of the Irish surname Reagan, which has been in U.S. use as a first name since at least 1963 (the year it first appeared in Social Security records). It reached its peak popularity in 2019, when it ranked among the top 300 names for girls. However, since 2019 its usage has been steadily falling; by 2025 it ranked 505, with about 1 in 2,729 newborns receiving the name. The spelling Raegan is particularly favored in West Virginia, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, states that led the country in usage during the 2010s. The name's trajectory reflects broader naming trends: surname names ending in a soft 'an' sound have been widely adopted for girls, often replacing more traditional feminine names. While Raegan's etymology connects it to the Irish Ó Riagáin, its modern appeal is driven more by its phonetic resemblance to popular names like Reagan and its strong, unisex sound. Despite the recent decline, Raegan remains a distinctive choice that balances heritage with contemporary style.

Raegan is a variant spelling of Reagan, itself an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin, meaning 'descendant of Riagáin'. The personal name Riagáin is thought to derive from Old Irish 'riag', meaning 'impulsive' or 'fiery'. The name gained modern use as a surname-turned-first-name, partly influenced by the popularity of President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. Since the late 20th century, the phonetic Raegan spelling has become especially common for girls, aligning with the trend of surname-derived names ending in a feminine 'an' sound.