Boy · Germanic (via Norman French) · Christian · International
Reginald
ReginaldSay it REJ-i-nuld
Reginald meaning
Reginald is a Christian and international boy's name of Germanic origin (via Norman French).
Counsel + power, rule (Germanic ragin, wald)
Also used to mean: wise ruler, powerful counsellor
Reginald is the English form of Reginaldus, a Latinised spelling of the Germanic name Raginald. Its first part is ragin, which Köbler's Gothic dictionary glosses 'counsel, decision'; its second is wald, 'power, rule', the word behind Old High German waltan, 'to rule'. Name lists render it 'wise ruler' or 'powerful counsellor'. The Normans brought the name to England after 1066. Blessed Reginald of Orléans was an early follower of St Dominic. In India the name is used in Christian families, often shortened to Reggie.
Source: Gerhard Köbler, Gotisches Wörterbuch (4th ed., 2014); Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch (6th ed., 2014), s.v. ragin; s.v. walt · entry ragin; walt · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Köbler, Gotisches Wörterbuch, ragin · Köbler, Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, walt, waltan · Wikipedia, Reginald
Famous namesakes
- Blessed Reginald of Orléans, early Dominican friar
Popularity abroad
- #228 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Reginald · Reginold