Ronald
Ronald: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɹɒ.nəld/ · /ˈɹɑ.nəld/
Meaning and origin of Ronald
Root meaning: “advice”
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
Etymology
Anglicized from Scottish Gaelic Raghnall, itself derived from Old Norse Rǫgnvaldr, from rǫgn (“advice”) + valdr (“power”), later partly merged with the Continental Germanic equivalent Reynold.
How popular is Ronald?
Since 1880, 3,844 girls and 1,082,247 boys in the U.S. have been named Ronald (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #856 in 1946. Its highest rank for boys was #9 in 1941. In 2025 it ranked #638 for boys, with 438 babies given the name.
Names similar to Ronald
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Ronald
Sister and brother names that share Ronald's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Ronald FAQ
What does the name Ronald mean?
Ronald traces back to a root meaning "advice". A male given name from the Germanic languages. Anglicized from Scottish Gaelic Raghnall, itself derived from Old Norse Rǫgnvaldr, from rǫgn (“advice”) + valdr (“power”), later partly merged with the Continental Germanic equivalent Reynold.
What is the origin of the name Ronald?
Ronald is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Ronald?
Since 1880, 3,844 girls and 1,082,247 boys in the U.S. have been named Ronald (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #856 in 1946. Its highest rank for boys was #9 in 1941. In 2025 it ranked #638 for boys, with 438 babies given the name.
Is Ronald a boy or girl name?
Ronald is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 3,844 girls and 1,082,247 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.