Reigan is a unique and distinctive given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname Regan, which is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Raghallaigh. The original Gaelic name is believed to have been composed of the elements "Ó", meaning "descendant of", and "Raghallach", a personal name that may mean "little rope" or "favorite".
The surname Regan was originally borne by a sept, or clan, that was located in County Meath, Ireland. The sept is believed to have been founded by Raghalach O'Molloy, who was a chieftain of the Hy-Molloy, a powerful and noble family in medieval Ireland.
Over time, the surname Regan became associated with various locations throughout Ireland, including counties Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Offaly, Tipperary, and Waterford. Today, the name Regan is one of the most common Irish surnames, with many people bearing it around the world.
While Reigan has not traditionally been used as a given name in Ireland, it has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in English-speaking countries such as the United States and Australia. Parents may choose this name for its unique sound and Irish heritage, or because they have a personal connection to someone named Regan.
In summary, Reigan is an Irish-derived given name that means "descendant of Raghalach", a chieftain of the Hy-Molloy clan. While not traditionally used as a given name in Ireland, it has gained popularity internationally due to its unique sound and Irish heritage.
The name Reigan has been given to a total of 299 babies in the United States over the past 27 years, with the number of births varying from year to year.
Between 1996 and 2005, the annual birth count for Reigan ranged from a low of 5 in 1996 to a high of 15 in 2004. From 2006 onwards, there was an increase in the number of births with the name Reigan, with peaks of 19 births in 2016 and 17 births in 2018.
The most recent data available shows that there were 9 births in 2022 and 6 births in 2023. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues or if the number of births with the name Reigan starts to decline again in the coming years.
Despite fluctuations in popularity, it is clear that the name Reigan has remained a relatively uncommon choice for parents in the United States over the past quarter century.