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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Reagan

112 replies

MMJK · 23/05/2026 14:38

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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user1492757084 · 25/05/2026 07:27

I thought of the break dancing Olympian called Raygun. She was SO funny.

PurpleFlower1983 · 25/05/2026 06:31

The Exorcist then Ronald. I don’t like the name to be honest.

Amiacoolorwarmcolour · 25/05/2026 06:29

It’s not for me.
Nobody knows how to pronounce it.
It’s a bit too try hard for me.
Surname as first name type of thing.
Each to their own though.

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 25/05/2026 06:10

Ronald. American and a bit tacky.

Hassell · 25/05/2026 06:01

If Op goes on to name her daughter this gawd-awful name having seen the overwhelming view and comments on this thread - then the expression “who needs enemies when…” springs to mind

REDB99 · 25/05/2026 01:52

Arlanymor · 25/05/2026 00:31

I would assume they also were even less familiar with the play because they didn't seem to know that it is spelled Regan and not Reagan.

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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.

REDB99 · 25/05/2026 01:46

QwestSprout · 23/05/2026 14:40

I'd assume her parents liked King Lear.

My first thoughts! I actually briefly considered Regan (not that seriously) but couldn’t bear the association with such an awful character! I appreciate the spellings are different but the pronunciation is the same hence making the link to Lear when hearing ‘Reagan’ is something I would expect some people to do.

Chamallo · 25/05/2026 01:43

Extremely strange unless you’re a big fan of Ronald Reagan. Even if you are, can you be sure your daughter will have the same political views?

If you go with “Regan” I don’t think you’ll have the same issue, though I’ve not read the play and going by other replies here, might be worth doing that first to check the association doesn’t bother you.

SnowFrogJelly · 25/05/2026 00:44

Awful

MirandaBlu · 25/05/2026 00:42

I have a sister called Blair. My parents had no awareness of the politician when she was born, so I don't immediately assume political motives for a baby name matching that of a political figure. However, political associations (not necessarily motives) are predictable when you name someone Reagan, Blair, Thatcher, or Cameron in 2026.

If you love the name Reagan so much that it overcomes the connotations, then go for it. For perspective, if people want to look at the political realm it's also reminiscent of the surname of Scottish parliamentarian Ash Regan, who launched the "Unbuyable Act", urging Holyrood to drop centuries of misogyny and consider the impact to women and girls of living in a country where a woman "can be ordered like a pizza", and laying the groundwork for an egalitarian society even though that shocked misogynists around Scotland and the world.

I would instinctively pronounce baby Reagan's name (if I read it before I heard your pronunciation of it) RAY-gun like the president rather than REE-gan like Regan in King Lear. Maybe the Regan spelling would work better for you?

Arlanymor · 25/05/2026 00:31

CurlewKate · 23/05/2026 16:43

I wouldn’t. I’d assume they had heard of King Lear but had no idea of the plot.

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I would assume they also were even less familiar with the play because they didn't seem to know that it is spelled Regan and not Reagan.

mathanxiety · 25/05/2026 00:27

MMJK · 23/05/2026 21:00

I think it depends on the accent. They sound very similar to each other in our accent too.

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

Raygun - long A

Reegun - long E

EasilyPleased · 25/05/2026 00:26

QwestSprout · 23/05/2026 14:40

I'd assume her parents liked King Lear.

But had overlooked Regan being a bit of a bitch and ending up killed rather unpleasantly by her sister..

mathanxiety · 25/05/2026 00:24

HelenaWilson · 23/05/2026 18:51

There's the rather awful US president

What was wrong with Ronald Reagan?

Hold my beer...

thinkingaboutipswich · 24/05/2026 23:14

I thought of King Lear as well but I think that was Regan. At least it’s not Goneril 🙏

lottiegarbanzo · 24/05/2026 23:12

OP are you pronouncing Megan as Mee-gun? Rather than the usual British pronunciation of Meg (rhymes either egg) un?

Because we’d pronounce Reg to rhyme with edge. So Reg-in = R-edge-in, like the beginning of Reginald.

HugoThatway · 24/05/2026 11:05

HelicoPie · 24/05/2026 10:22

Tegan is a great shout. Raven similar but a bit hippy which I like but has a diff energy.

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Tegan is dreadful. Tea-gun. ( it's also the Welsh word for toy but not said as Tea-gun.)

HelicoPie · 24/05/2026 10:22

HouseHouseHouse7 · 24/05/2026 10:19

If you like the egg-ann sound (I do too) I’d be inclined to go with Megan or the Welsh name Tegan, which would get rid of the pronouncing issues.

If you like the look of the name Reagan written down, maybe go for it but with the ray-gun pronunciation.

Tegan is a great shout. Raven similar but a bit hippy which I like but has a diff energy.

HouseHouseHouse7 · 24/05/2026 10:19

If you like the egg-ann sound (I do too) I’d be inclined to go with Megan or the Welsh name Tegan, which would get rid of the pronouncing issues.

If you like the look of the name Reagan written down, maybe go for it but with the ray-gun pronunciation.

IsadoraQuagmire · 24/05/2026 10:08

Regan - King Lear
Reagan - The Exorcist

Neither of them rhyme with Megan though.

Hassell · 24/05/2026 07:01

I implore you @MMJK

Do not subject your child to this name

JMSA · 24/05/2026 03:00

It’s terrible, sorry.

What about Teagan/Teigan if you like that sound?

canuckup · 24/05/2026 02:36

'Reggin'
😂

I hope ya like jammin too

😅

user293948849167 · 23/05/2026 22:51

My first thought would be King Lear, and I would pronounce it Ray-gan.
Nobody is going to say Regan to rhyme with Megan (unless you pronounce Megan May-gun!)
Not keen on it tbh, there are nicer names

Giraffehaver · 23/05/2026 22:40

I'm sorry but I think it's absolutely ghastly and makes me think YUK