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Help[Opinions] Re: Rëgan?
in reply to a message by Kit
Well, I don't know about what everyone else is posting- where I come from, most people would pronounce Regan as RAY-gun, not REE-un. It doesn't mean "regal and royal" OR "little king", but I see everyone else has already told you that. It's always more fun for sites to give meanings for every name, even though a lot of them are of unknown meaning. Makes the expectant parents think the name is more solid, I guess.
I myself prefer the RAY-gun pronunciation, BTW. It has nothing to do with Ronald Reagan, I just like the sound of it.
I myself prefer the RAY-gun pronunciation, BTW. It has nothing to do with Ronald Reagan, I just like the sound of it.
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I think the "little king" hypothesis (which Norah posted below) could have some sort of merit, but the connection may still be tenuous:
rí = king
beag = small, little
rí + beag = Riagáin = anglicized Regan?
Alternatively, we may just be making etymological connections where there aren't actually any. And I don't know enough about Irish to tell.
rí = king
beag = small, little
rí + beag = Riagáin = anglicized Regan?
Alternatively, we may just be making etymological connections where there aren't actually any. And I don't know enough about Irish to tell.
This message was edited 6/24/2011, 12:41 PM
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I would bet the meaning all the other sites came up with was based on Shakespeare's usage of it.
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Having never read 'King Lear', I couldn't tell you. It's frustrating how they feed people the wrong information, though. All it does is lead to confusing discussions on other sites like this one.
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Here's another site claiming it came from Riagan
Calling it royal, regal, descendant of Riagan:
http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Regan.html
And another that says it means nobility:
http://www.cutebabyname.com/regan.html
And another calling it little ruler or little king:
http://www.huggies.co.nz/baby-names/unisex/r/regan
And another saying that it means royal, regal, and king's heir:
http://www.babynology.com/otherorigins-regan-f13.html
I guess it's hard to believe every other site out there is wrong and this site is the only one correct, even though people on this site also posted in the comments section saying it means these things.
Calling it royal, regal, descendant of Riagan:
http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Regan.html
And another that says it means nobility:
http://www.cutebabyname.com/regan.html
And another calling it little ruler or little king:
http://www.huggies.co.nz/baby-names/unisex/r/regan
And another saying that it means royal, regal, and king's heir:
http://www.babynology.com/otherorigins-regan-f13.html
I guess it's hard to believe every other site out there is wrong and this site is the only one correct, even though people on this site also posted in the comments section saying it means these things.
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They're all correct, in a way. The word that is at the center of Ríagán is "rí," which in Irish Gaelic, means "king." -án, is a common diminutive ending (kind of like -ie and -y are in English [Kate/Katie John/Johnny]. So, "little king" is the most accurate. "royal; regal" is just extrapolating ideas based on "king." None of these definitions are exactly totally wrong, you just have to take them with a grain of salt; they're exaggerated and have implied meanings that may or may not be accurate.
However, scholars also disagree on the root word of "riagan," it could be from another word altogether, one meaning "vehement; furious."
A good name site will usually have a sentence or two about a name, not just list a meaning.
However, scholars also disagree on the root word of "riagan," it could be from another word altogether, one meaning "vehement; furious."
A good name site will usually have a sentence or two about a name, not just list a meaning.
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One thing you have to remember is the fact that these other sites are BABY name sites. This one isn't- sure, we have expectant parents come here, but first and foremost it's an etymology site. Baby name sites are going to tell people every name has a meaning because people want that for their kids; no one really wants to hear, "We don't know what this name means, but it *might* have something to do with X, which is a similar name, but not the one you're lookin' for. Sorry!" That is why all these sites run with the meaning of similar sounding names (Ryan, Regina) and NOT with the name in question. Am I making any sense?
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Brilliant!
I think you hit the nail on the head with this one.
I think you hit the nail on the head with this one.
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Exactly!
Also, there are very few sources of information that people ultimately use. Most sites just use the incorrect info from other incorrect sites or books.
Also, there are very few sources of information that people ultimately use. Most sites just use the incorrect info from other incorrect sites or books.
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Yup, it makes sense.
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I think people are just running with the "king" connection.
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But again, how do you know that's not true? I'm not being flip. I'm genuinely curious to know why every other site out there is discounted in its meaning when all of them have the same meaning listed? I could see if there were 25 different meanings or something, but all the other sites agree. How do we know they're all wrong?
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I think it may be because all the other sites copied their information from an incorrect source in the first place.
BtN says "possibly of Celtic Origin". Are there any words similar to Regan in any of the Celtic languages, or words that could construct Regan? Secondly, is there any usage before King Lear?
BtN says "possibly of Celtic Origin". Are there any words similar to Regan in any of the Celtic languages, or words that could construct Regan? Secondly, is there any usage before King Lear?
This message was edited 6/24/2011, 12:00 PM
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I haven't found any usage prior to King Lear, but I don't know how to research that specifically. Don't know of any other words similar to Regan in Celtic languages.
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