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Regan

Girl / Boy name · 431 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Regan: 431 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 33 births in 1998.

Regan is an anglicised form of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin, meaning 'descendant of Riagán' – a personal name thought to derive from the Old Irish *riagan*, possibly 'little king' or 'impulsive one'. The name is most famously borne by the ruthless, ambitious Regan, daughter of King Lear in Shakespeare's tragedy, which cemented its literary presence. In modern times, American swimmer Regan Smith, an Olympic gold medallist and world record-holder, brings athletic renown. There are no major place connections directly tied to the first name, though the related surname 'Reagan' links to former US president Ronald Reagan, after whom Washington's Reagan National Airport is named. Often seen as a unisex name, Regan has been regularly used in Scotland since the 1970s, and its popular variant 'Reagan' remains a common spelling choice.