Given name & surname · also Celtic
Regan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
Regan has both a Shakespearean association and a separate connection with an Irish surname.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “born into royalty; the little ruler.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Celtic.
The 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.
Regan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 20,053
- 3,746 boys · 16,307 girls
- Most popular year
- 2001
- 810 babies
- 2025
- 97
- #2,295 for girls · #5,559 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −42%
- Cooling
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 20% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 80 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,295 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 42.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 747 in 2001. It also appeared in 17 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Ohio and Pennsylvania and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 18,676 as a first name in 2020; 21,004 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.
Regan’s family of names
Regan has a related form in Reagan. Regan has a related form in Raegan. Regan has a related form in Ragan.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Regan
- Regan SmithAmerican swimmerborn 2002
- Regan PooleWelsh association football player (born 1998)
- Regan GoughNew Zealand track cyclistborn 1996
- Regan Charles-CookBritish association football playerborn 1997
- Regan HarrisonAustralian swimmer, Olympic silver medallist, world championborn 1977
- Regan SmithAmerican stock car racing driverborn 1983
- BusdriverAmerican rapperborn 1978
- Regan Slaterassociation football player (born 1999)
- Regan YeeCanadian athleteborn 1995
Characters named Regan: Regan MacNeil (The Exorcist).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Regan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cordelia
“a good-hearted woman; a woman of honesty”
>99% girls
Elayna
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls
Riley
“from the rye clearing; a courageous woman”
22% boys · 78% girls
Riane
“little ruler” · “the little ruler; little king”
1% boys · 99% girls
Leanna
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Alexandra
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% girls
Roslin
“a little red-haired boy”
>99% girls