Reginald

Reginald
RomanizationReginaldus
Pronunciation/ˈrɛ.dʒɪ.nəld/, REH-jih-nəld
GenderMale
LanguageEnglish
Origin
LanguagesGermanic; Latin
Word/nameLatin: Reginaldus
Derivationragin + wald
Meaning"advice", "counsel", "decision" + "rule", "ruler".
Region of originEngland
Other names
Variant formReginold
Short formReg
Pet formReggie
AnglicisationReginald
Related namesReynold, Ragnall, Reinhold, Ronald, Rognvald
See alsoRex, Regina

Reginald is a masculine given name in the English language that derives from the Latin word for "king".

Etymology and history

The name Reginald comes from Latin meaning "king" and "ruler" symbolizing authority and leadership. It comes from combining Latin “rex” meaning king and “nald” meaning ruler. The name is derived from Reginaldus which means "king". This name signifies a ruler or kingly figure, representing authority and leadership. This Latin name is a Latinisation of a Germanic language name. The Germanic name is composed of two elements: the first ragin, meaning "advice", "counsel", "decision"; the second element is wald, meaning "rule", "ruler". The Old German form of the name is Raginald; Old French forms are Reinald and Reynaud.

Forms of this Germanic name were first brought to the British Isles by Scandinavians, in the form of the Old Norse Rögnvaldr.[citation needed] This name was later reinforced by the arrival of the Normans in the 11th century, in the Norman forms Reinald and Reynaud.[citation needed]

The Latin Reginaldus was used as a Latin form of cognate names, such as the Old Norse Rögnvaldr, and the Gaelic Ragnall and Raghnall.

Translations

Use and popularity

Today Reginald is regarded as a very formal name, and bearers generally shorten their name to Reg in ordinary usage. Reggie is a pet form of Reg.

People with the name

Middle Ages

Ordered chronologically

Modern world

Fictional characters

References

  1. ↑ "What does Reginald Mean?", TheNameMeaning.com, The Name Meaning, archived from the original on 2019-02-07, retrieved 2019-02-05
  2. ↑ "Biblical Meaning of Reginald: Unveiling Its Significance in Authority and Leadership". Biblical Chronology. January 2, 2025. Archived from the original on January 22, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Reginald Name Meaning, Origin, History, And Popularity". Mom Junction. May 7, 2024. Archived from the original on January 22, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Learn about the family history of your surname, Ancestry.com, archived from the original on 26 April 2013, retrieved 2 November 2010 which cited: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4 for the surname "Reynold".
  5. 1 2 3 Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 228, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1
  6. ↑ Reaney, Percy Hilde; Wilson, Richard Middlewood (2006), A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.), London: Routledge, p. 2626, ISBN 0-203-99355-1
  7. ↑ McDonald, R. A. (2007). Manx Kingship in Its Irish Sea Setting, 1187–1229: King Rǫgnvaldr and the Crovan Dynasty. Dublin: Four Courts Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-84682-047-2.
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