Ronald
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Ronald
A strong, if slightly dated sounding choice, Ronald made the US Top 10 in the late 1930s through into the mid-1940s, before it became heavily associated with President Reagan, as well as with the McDonald franchise mascot. More recently, it has appeared in the Harry Potter series, borne by Ronald "Ron" Weasley, while others may immediately think of its rhyme, Donald. All of these factors may work against Ronald making a big resurgence, but popular nickname Ronnie might make others reconsider.
Ronald for boys#638 US
The Scottish form of Ragnvaldr, a name brought to England and Scotland by the Vikings, it means "ruler's counselor", giving it a hint of wisdom and strength. It currently appears in the US Top 600 and the UK Top 800, it was given to just shy of 500 American boys in a recent year. Short form Ronnie made the England and Wales Top 50, while the longer form is preferred in the US.
Ronald for girls
Mostly used for boys, Ronald saw a (perhaps) surprising amount of use for girls in the US across the 20th century, peaking in 1967 when 100 girls were given the name (compared to more than 16440 boys, that is). In fact, from 1940 to 1975, it was given to at least 50 girls every year.
Derived from Old Norse to mean "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler", it has been out of the charts for girls (and on the decline for boys) since the 1990s. You'd probably be better off going with unisex Ronnie for a daughter.
Pronounced RAH-nuld.
As of October 2026, Ronald ranked #638 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #9 in 1943, Nameberry popularity #758.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #394 | 791 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #434 | 704 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #429 | 728 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #462 | 659 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #491 | 587 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #528 | 540 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #559 | 502 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #562 | 504 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #559 | 532 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #612 | 457 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #575 | 495 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #638 | 438 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Ronald for boys
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Ronald.
Ronald on lists
Famous Ronalds
- Ronald Wilson ReaganBoy
40th U.S. president
- Ronald William "Ron" HowardBoy
American actor director
- Ronald Aylmer FisherBoy
English statistician and geneticist
- Ronald Charles ColmanBoy
English actor
- Ronald IsleyBoy
American singer
- Ronald Duddley MooreBoy
American screenwriter
- (Arthur Annesley) Ronald FirbankBoy
British novelist
- Ronald FieldsBoy
better known by his stage name Cougnut, American rapper
- Ronald Jason "Ron" EldardBoy
American actor
- Ronald Joseph "Ronnie" RadkeBoy
American singer
- Ronald RossBoy
English physician and Nobel Prizewinner
- Ronald KoemanBoy
Dutch footballer
- Ronald George Wreyford NorrishBoy
winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Ronald Harry CoaseBoy
winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences
- Ronald Wayne "Ron" BurkleBoy
American billionaire, investor and philanthropist
- Ronald Belford "Bon" ScottBoy
Scottish born, Australian lead singer of AC/DC
Ronald in pop culture
- Ronald "Ron" SwansonBoy
character in Parks and Recreation
- Ronald "Ron" StoppableBoy
character from Kim Possible
- Ronald McDonaldBoy
McDonald's mascot
- Ronald "Mac" McDonaldBoy
character on the TV series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Ronald LeslieBoy
main character in G. A. Henty's, Bonnie Prince Charlie
- Ronald "Ronnie" Raymond aka FirestormBoy
character on TV's "The Flash"
- Ronald MillerBoy
main character from the movie "Can't Buy Me Love"
- "Young Ronald"Boy
A ballad in the 19th century collection "The Child Ballads"