Ronald
How to say it: RON-uld · /ˈrɑnəld/
From Old Norse 'Rögnvaldr', meaning 'ruler's counselor' or 'wise power'. Anglicized via Scottish Gaelic.
Ronald was the 599th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 438 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1940s, its births are down about 38% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #668 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #599 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 438 |
| Share of births | 1 in 7,569 |
| Peak decade | 1940s |
| Change over 10 years | −38% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #668 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Ronald reached its high in the 1940s before growing rarer. Far below that peak at present, it is expected to slip.
What goes with it
Mellow and rolling, Ronald sounds soft and sturdy. Robert shares its style and Ronnie works as a familiar short form.
Nicknames
- Ron
- Ronnie
Honouring a Ronald in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Ronald is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish.
Famous people named Ronald
- Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor
- Ronald Koeman (born 1963)Dutch football coach and former football player
- Ronald Ross (1857–1932)British doctor, Nobel laureate, writer, and artist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- McDonald's clown mascot; name reads as the fast-food clown
Keep exploring
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