Ronald is a masculine given name derived from the Old Norse Rögnvaldr,[2] or possibly from Old English Regenweald.[3] In some cases Ronald is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Raghnall, a name likewise derived from Rögnvaldr.[4] The latter name is composed of the Old Norse elements regin ("advice", "decision") and valdr ("ruler").[5] Ronald was originally used in England and Scotland, where Scandinavian influences were once substantial, although now the name is common throughout the English-speaking world.[2] A short form of Ronald is Ron.[2] Pet forms of Ronald include Roni[6] and Ronnie.[2] Ronalda and Rhonda are feminine forms of Ronald.[7] Rhona, a modern name apparently only dating back to the late nineteenth century, may have originated as a feminine form of Ronald.[8] The names Renaud/Renault and Reynold/Reinhold are cognates from French and German respectively. The name Ronaldo is a cognate from Spanish and Portuguese.

Ronald
Pronunciation/ˈrɒnəld/[1]
GenderMale
Language(s)English
Origin
Language(s)Old Norse, Old English
Word/nameRögnvaldr, Regenweald
Derivationregin + valdr or regen + weald
Meaning"advice", "decision" + "ruler"
Other names
Short form(s)Ron
Pet form(s)Roni, Ronnie, Ronny
Related namesRaghnall, Ronalda, Ronaldson, Rhona, Ronaldo, Reynold, Rainald, Renaud, Reinhold

People with the name edit

Fictional people with the name edit

See also edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Jones (1986) p. 427.
  2. ^ a b c d Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) p. 234; Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Ronald.
  3. ^ See Searle's Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, page 397.
  4. ^ Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges 2006 p. 407; Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Raghnall.
  5. ^ Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) pp. 234, 407; Hanks; Hodges (2003) §§ Raghnall, Ragnvald.
  6. ^ Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) p. 234.
  7. ^ Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Ronald.
  8. ^ Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) pp. 230, 408; Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Rhona.

References edit

  • Hanks, P; Hodges, F (2003). A Dictionary of First Names (MOBI). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198606052.
  • Hanks, P; Hardcastle, K; Hodges, F (2006) [1990]. A Dictionary of First Names. Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1.
  • Jones, D; Gimson, AC (1986) [1917]. Everyman's English Pronouncing Dictionary (14th ed.). J.M. Dent & Sons. OL 4296804M.
  • Searle, D (1897) [1897]. Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. Cambridge University Press.