NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Rheagan

A feminine name of Irish origin meaning "little royal/kingly one".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2002. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Rheagan is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rheagan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2002 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4137, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2002 to 2002. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Rheagan is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Rheagan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2003 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Rheagan ranked #4137 for girls in England and Wales in 2002, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2002, when 3 girls were registered as Rheagan.
  • Rheagan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #640 in 2002.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rheagan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4137

2002

Births in 2002

3

Latest year

Peak year

2002

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Rheagan mean?

The name Rheagan is believed to have its origins in the ancient Celtic language, which was spoken in parts of Europe, particularly in the British Isles, during the Iron Age and medieval periods. It is thought to be derived from the Celtic word "rigan," which means "little king" or "kingly."

According to historical records, the name Rheagan first appeared in written form in the 8th century CE, in ancient Irish manuscripts and texts. It was commonly used as a given name among the Celtic tribes and clans of Ireland and Scotland during that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rheagan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, a person named Rheagan mac Fergus is mentioned as a prominent figure in the year 738 CE.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Rheagan was particularly popular among the noble and ruling classes of Ireland and Scotland. It was often chosen for sons who were expected to inherit titles or positions of leadership within their respective clans or kingdoms.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Rheagan was Rheagan mac Áeda, an Irish king who ruled the kingdom of Bréifne in the 10th century CE. He is recorded in the Annals of Ulster as having been involved in various conflicts and battles during his reign.

Another famous bearer of the name was Rheagan Rúad Ua Conchobair, an Irish king who ruled the Kingdom of Connacht in the 12th century CE. He is remembered for his military campaigns against the Anglo-Norman invaders of Ireland and his efforts to preserve the independence of his kingdom.

In the 16th century, a Scottish noble named Rheagan Macleod was recorded as having played a significant role in the clan conflicts and power struggles that took place in the Hebrides islands during that time.

Moving forward to the 18th century, a notable figure named Rheagan O'Donnell is mentioned in historical accounts as a leader of the United Irishmen, a revolutionary republican movement that sought to end British rule in Ireland.

Lastly, in the 19th century, a Scottish poet and author named Rheagan Macpherson gained recognition for his works celebrating the Gaelic culture and traditions of the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Rheagan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rheagan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2000s #4137 3 1

Geography

Where Rheagan is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rheagan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Rheagan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #640 in 2002.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Rheagan in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#640 in 2002

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Rheagan

FAQ

Rheagan: questions and answers

How popular is the name Rheagan in the UK right now?

In 2002, Rheagan was ranked #4137 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Rheagan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2002, with 3 babies registered as Rheagan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rheagan?

A feminine name of Irish origin meaning "little royal/kingly one".

How many people are called Rheagan in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Rheagan across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Rheagan most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Rheagan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #640 in 2002. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.