What Does the Name Ronald Mean?
Ronald is a boy's name of Old Norse origin meaning “ruler's counsel.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Ronald |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Old Norse |
| Meaning | ruler's counsel |
| Variants | Ron, Ronnie, Reynold, Ronaldo, Ronny |
| Popularity | A US top 10 boys' name in the 1930s-1940s. |
The meaning and origin of Ronald
The name Ronald means “ruler's counsel” and has Old Norse origins. Scottish form derived from the Old Norse Rognvaldr, from elements meaning 'advice, counsel' and 'ruler'. It is a cognate of Reynold and became widespread in the English-speaking world in the 20th century.
Variants and related names
Ronald is related to several other names you may recognize: Ron, Ronnie, Reynold, Ronaldo, Ronny. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Ronald?
A US top 10 boys' name in the 1930s-1940s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ronald mean?+
The name Ronald means “ruler's counsel” and is of Old Norse origin.
What is the origin of the name Ronald?+
Ronald originates from Old Norse.
Is Ronald a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Ronald has trended in the US over time.
Ronald by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press