Reagan | Mumsnet

MMJK · 2026-05-23T13:38:53+00:00

What would your first thought be if you met a girl or woman named Reagan? Does it remind you too much of Ronald Reagan or the Exorcist? We would be pronouncing it like reg-in (so the same as the president and the film), not ree-gan.

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AuContrairePubicHair · 26/05/2026 11:48

Hinthebuild · 25/05/2026 18:53

I have no idea how PP aren’t understanding the OP’s explanation of the pronunciation. It seems obvious to me that she wants it to be pronounced as Reg-in. The reg part rhymes with leg. I don’t understand where PP are getting Rej-in from.

Because Reg is an existing name (short for Reginald) and it's pronounced Rej. That's why.

In fact based on the existing name Reginald the obvious way to pronounce Regin would be Rejin!!

lottiegarbanzo · 26/05/2026 07:06

HugoThatway · 25/05/2026 19:25

@Hinthebuild, me neither, Regin would be rej-in. The OP used 'reg-in'.
Reg as a name is 'redge'.

I think the OP wanted it to rhyme with Meghan.

Then she needs to spell it Reghan (hard G) or Regin (g as j). How about Regina OP?

Reg-in to rhyme with Leg-in is not conveyed by the word Reagan which is pronounced Ray-gun, nor by Regan which is pronounced Ree-gun.

HugoThatway · 25/05/2026 19:25

@Hinthebuild, me neither, Regin would be rej-in. The OP used 'reg-in'.
Reg as a name is 'redge'.

I think the OP wanted it to rhyme with Meghan.

Hinthebuild · 25/05/2026 18:53

I have no idea how PP aren’t understanding the OP’s explanation of the pronunciation. It seems obvious to me that she wants it to be pronounced as Reg-in. The reg part rhymes with leg. I don’t understand where PP are getting Rej-in from.

BillieWiper · 25/05/2026 18:44

HugoThatway · 25/05/2026 17:59

The g in Reginald and Registration precedes an i.

Why did you say Reagan as Raygun makes no sense then?

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I didn't. I think we've confused eachother. I said they make perfect sense. OP claiming that 'rej-in' phonetically is Raygun is what I think doesn't work. As 'rej' to me would rhyme with Reg as in Reginald.

HugoThatway · 25/05/2026 17:59

BillieWiper · 25/05/2026 16:38

Sorry you've totally lost me there. I've no idea what you're saying.

And yeah I'm very well aware of him and how to pronounce his name. What makes you think I'm not?

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The g in Reginald and Registration precedes an i.

Why did you say Reagan as Raygun makes no sense then?

OccasionalHope · 25/05/2026 16:48

It's usually spelt Regan when used for a girl's first name.

Reagan would def imply you were a fan of Ronald.

LeedsLoiner · 25/05/2026 16:45

To someone my age it’s “Shut it - we’re The Sweeney!”

SomersetBrie · 25/05/2026 16:43

President. Call her Ronnie as a nickname.

DuaneBarry · 25/05/2026 16:41

Yes, The Exorcist would be my first thought.

BillieWiper · 25/05/2026 16:38

HugoThatway · 25/05/2026 15:58

Reginald, Registration.

Ronald Reagan was well-known enough for people to be familiar with it. His presidency might have been before your time but it's not that long ago.

EA said as 'ay' appears in names like Eamonn and Kearney.

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Sorry you've totally lost me there. I've no idea what you're saying.

And yeah I'm very well aware of him and how to pronounce his name. What makes you think I'm not?

HugoThatway · 25/05/2026 15:58

BillieWiper · 25/05/2026 14:26

I was thinking of Reginald or Registration. So when the Op typed reg, to me it =rej. And nothing like 'Ray' which is phonetically how I'd pronounce the first syllable of Reagan.

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Reginald, Registration.

Ronald Reagan was well-known enough for people to be familiar with it. His presidency might have been before your time but it's not that long ago.

EA said as 'ay' appears in names like Eamonn and Kearney.

MyArtfulGreySloth · 25/05/2026 14:28

My first thought is of The Exorcist, but that’s exactly why I like it. It was on my girls name list for this reason.

MaggieBsBoat · 25/05/2026 14:27

King Lear nasty daughter for me (even with an alternative spelling).

BillieWiper · 25/05/2026 14:26

HugoThatway · 25/05/2026 10:32

@wafflesmgee , It’s not a name. Seriously. Regan was a character in Shakespeare's King Lear. Reagan name origin.

@Berlinlover , The correct pronunciation is Ree-gan not Ray-gan. Reagan is 'ray-gun', Regan is 'ree-gun'

@BillieWiper , Sorry, to me it's phonetic so that spelling sounds like 'rej- in' or 'regg- inn'. Rather than 'ray-gun'.
G is not a J sound unless it precedes an E, I or Y. e.g. regret, register, Margaret, edge. Your phonetics argument doesn't hold.

Edited

I was thinking of Reginald or Registration. So when the Op typed reg, to me it =rej. And nothing like 'Ray' which is phonetically how I'd pronounce the first syllable of Reagan.

Arlanymor · 25/05/2026 13:37

REDB99 · 25/05/2026 01:52

But the OP said the pronunciation would be the same and you’re much more likely to hear a child’s name rather than see it written down so this association isn’t a silly one to make.

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I didn't say silly - but it is wrong and I think spelling of names is important. I've spent 47 years having my name spelled incorrectly - even on my baby bracelet in hospital. Spell any other word you want incorrectly, but names are identity, it is important to spell them in the right way, even if the spelling is elaborate and weird. My name isn't elaborate or weird, it's five letters.

WimpoleHat · 25/05/2026 10:35

Reagan - think President Ronald
Regan - think a very unpleasant character indeed from King Lear.

Neither good! I’d avoid.

HugoThatway · 25/05/2026 10:32

@wafflesmgee , It’s not a name. Seriously. Regan was a character in Shakespeare's King Lear. Reagan name origin.

@Berlinlover , The correct pronunciation is Ree-gan not Ray-gan. Reagan is 'ray-gun', Regan is 'ree-gun'

@BillieWiper , Sorry, to me it's phonetic so that spelling sounds like 'rej- in' or 'regg- inn'. Rather than 'ray-gun'.
G is not a J sound unless it precedes an E, I or Y. e.g. regret, register, Margaret, edge. Your phonetics argument doesn't hold.

Whoops75 · 25/05/2026 10:17

American name so I would assume one parent was from there.

lottiegarbanzo · 25/05/2026 10:06

WhimsyWhim · 25/05/2026 09:31

I was assuming that the regg sounds like the beginning of the word “regular”.

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And again, whether the g is hard or soft, wtf is ‘the Regg-in pronunciation’? Nobody pronounces Reagan like that.

WhimsyWhim · 25/05/2026 09:31

lottiegarbanzo · 25/05/2026 09:29

But wtf is ‘the Regg-in pronunciation’? As in Reginald? Nobody pronounces Reagan like that.

I was assuming that the regg sounds like the beginning of the word “regular”.

lottiegarbanzo · 25/05/2026 09:29

But wtf is ‘the Regg-in pronunciation’? As in Reginald? Nobody pronounces Reagan like that.

BrownRedPink · 25/05/2026 09:22

mathanxiety · 25/05/2026 00:27

They are two very distinct-sounding names in most accents.

Raygun - long A

Reegun - long E

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I believe the OP was referring to the ray-gun vs. regg-in pronunciations.

lljkk · 25/05/2026 07:44

Reagan as first name = I would assume their parent was a fan of Ronald Reagan.

When Reagan was president there was a girl with surname Regan in our year at high school. I wanted to pity her for the similarity, but probably her parents were Ronald Reagan fans, too.

PersephoneParlormaid · 25/05/2026 07:29

I know a Reagan, but to me it sounds like a masculine name.