Reginald

Last updated
Reginald
RomanizationReginaldus
Pronunciation /ˈrɛɪnəld/
GenderMale
Language(s) English
Other gender
Feminine Regina
Origin
Language(s) Germanic; Latin
Word/name Latin: Reginaldus
Derivationragin + wald
Meaning"advice", "counsel", "decision" + "rule", "ruler".
Region of origin England
Other names
Variant form(s)Reginold
Short form(s) Reg
Pet form(s) Reggie
Anglicisation(s)Reginald
Related names Regina
See also Ragnall, Reinhold, Ronald, Rex

Reginald is a masculine given name in the English language meaning "king". [1]

Contents

Etymology and history

The name Reginald comes from Latin meaning "king" and "ruler" symbolizing authority and leadership. [2] It comes from combining Latin “rex” meaning king and “nald” meaning ruler. The name is derived from Reginaldus which means "king". [3] 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", [4] "decision"; [5] the second element is wald, meaning "rule", [4] "ruler". [5] The Old German form of the name is Raginald; Old French forms are Reinald and Reynaud. [6]

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. [4] [ 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. [7]

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. [5]

People with the name

Middle Ages

Ordered chronologically

Modern world

Fictional characters

References

  1. What does Reginald Mean?, thenamemeaning.com
  2. "Biblical Meaning of Reginald: Unveiling Its Significance in Authority and Leadership". Biblical Chronology. January 2, 2025.
  3. "Reginald Name Meaning, Origin, History, And Popularity". Mom Junction. May 7, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Learn about the family history of your surname, Ancestry.com , 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.