Ronan Name Meaning, Origin, History, And Popularity

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

In This Article

Origin, Meaning, And History Of Ronan

Ronan, a name with deep Irish roots, means ‘little seal,’ ‘a pledge,’ or ‘an oath.’ The name has been popular since Anglo-Saxon times and is associated with Celtic mythology. It has also been borne by 12 Irish and Scottish saints. These include St. Ronan of Locronan, St. Ronan of Iona, St. Ronan of Iveagh, St. Ronan Finn, and St. Ronan of Ulster.

According to popular belief, Ronan may have also originated from the Irish legend of a mother seal who was forbidden to swim very close to the land. But when a huge wave sweeps the seal ashore, she becomes confined in a human form and becomes considered a Selkie. The seal marries a fisherman and gives birth to children. These little seals became popular as Ronans.

In history, Ronan Mac Bearaigh was the founder of Druim Inesclainn. Ronan Fionn was the patron of Lan Ronan in Iveagh, whose feast is celebrated throughout Ireland and Scotland on May 22. Ronan has several variations. It is O’Ronan in Irish, Ronen in Hebrew, Ronin in Japanese, and Ronanye in Irish and Gaelic. This Irish Gaelic name has also been used as a surname in Ireland. Today, many Irish singers, musicians, and television personalities have proudly taken on this name.

Ronan has also made appearances in popular culture as a fictional character. Ronan Dex is a character in the television series Stargate Atlantis. Marvel fans may recognize Ronan the Accuser as the Supreme Accuser of the Kree Empire in the Fantastic Four. In the Harry Potter series, a centaur named Ronan resides in the Forbidden Forest. Additionally, the name appears as a surname for one of the lead characters, Tyler Ronan, in the episodic adventure game Tell Me Why. With its rich history and cultural significance, Ronan would be a beautiful name for a baby boy.

Ronan

Meaning To make a promising oath

Gender Boy

Origin Irish

Names starting with R.. Ra.. Raa.. Ram.. Rae.. Rah.. Rai..

How To Pronounce Ronan?

English

Famous People With The Name Ronan

Ronan FarrowAmerican writer and activist
Ronan KeatingIrish actor
Ronan VibertEnglish actor
Ronan ParkeEnglish pop singer
Ronan FinnIrish footballer
Ronan O’Sullivan FarrowAmerican journalist, son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen
Ronan TynanIrish tenor
Ronan RaffertyProfessional golfer
Ronan LabarFrench badminton player

Ronan On The Popularity Chart

The name became immensely popular in the year 2019. This chart from the Social Security Administration reflects its popularity and ranking.

Popularity Over Time

Ronan as a name has become increasingly popular after 1998. Check out this graphic representation of its popularity over time.

Source: Social Security Administration

Rank Over Time

The prevalence of this name has fluctuated significantly during the 1980s. The ranking and popularity over the past few decades are shown in the following graph.

Source: Social Security Administration