Given name & surname
Ragan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
Ragan is a variant of Regan. One interpretation is “born into royalty; the little ruler.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Ragan is a variant of Regan. One interpretation is “born into royalty; the little ruler.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Ragan is a variant of Regan. An origin associated with Regan is Celtic.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1923. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Ragan is a variant of Regan. The history of Regan gives this family its wider story. Regan is one of Lear’s daughters in King Lear. Shakespeare’s source for the name is uncertain; later use has also been reinforced by the Irish surname Regan or Reagan, a distinct naming route.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Ragan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,260
- 394 boys · 1,866 girls
- Most popular year
- 1998
- 89 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #14,530 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −29%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 14% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 14,530 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 27.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 78 in 1998. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,187 as a first name in 2020; 9,810 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Ragan
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ragan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Raegan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
1% boys · 99% girls
Janaki
“descendant of Janaka”
>99% girls
Regnan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
—
Reghan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
>99% girls
Riagan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
—
Reçaan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
—
Tristia
“one who is sorrowful”
>99% girls
Alexandra
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% girls