New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Why is Reginald unpopular?
I’ve noticed in a few polls lately that Reginald rates low to under average and I don’t think I’ve seen one where it ever wins. Apparently Reginald was never out of US top 1000 until 2021 and before the early 2000s when it started dropping it was only out of top 500 five times. So what am I missing? Is there a pop culture reference that I’m unaware of?
This is obviously just my opinion but I put Reginald in the same category as Arthur, Theodore, Sebastian etc. which are far more popular.
Any thoughts on why Reginald is unpopular to both the general public and to the “name nerds” on BtN?
This is obviously just my opinion but I put Reginald in the same category as Arthur, Theodore, Sebastian etc. which are far more popular.
Any thoughts on why Reginald is unpopular to both the general public and to the “name nerds” on BtN?
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
Reginald is a name that I used to highly detest. Now, I think it’s kind of handsome. Reggie is a pretty cute nickname. It does sound very old fashioned; perhaps, that could be why it’s unpopular. Growing up, I knew a dude named Reginald (a year younger than me). He went strictly by Reggie; he hated his name. His mom named him after his uncle. This being said, I’ve only known of three Reginald’s; Reggie, Reggie’s uncle (now 40), and an older man (77 years old now). It does bring to mind the Archie’s comic character; I don’t particularly like his stuck-up attitude. It also sounds similar to Regina (I also like this name. This only turn away is Regina George. This could be applicable to Reginald because it sounds similar?). Oh, and it reminds me of a worm (not an insult, an observation). This is because a friend named her stuffed worm Reginald.
Despite my long rambling, I don’t think I’d first pick this name. However, it isn’t a bad one, in my eyes. I do prefer the names Arthur and Theodore (which you listed it being similar to).
Despite my long rambling, I don’t think I’d first pick this name. However, it isn’t a bad one, in my eyes. I do prefer the names Arthur and Theodore (which you listed it being similar to).
1
It’s rising in the UK, and Reggie as a full fn is in the top 50 here.
This message was edited 8/12/2022, 12:03 PM
2
To me, Reginald sounds stuck up. I immediately imagine a stuffy, spoiled rich kid or a butler. Reggie is a little more approachable but not my style.
I'm someone who likes Arthur, Theodore, and Sebastian quite a bit. Theodore and Sebastian sound so much more youthful than Reginald. Arthur, at times, can sound a bit older too, but I think the nn Artie saves it as well as its connection to Arthurian legends and the author of Sherlock Holmes.
In addition, the -ald/-old ending feels quite dated (re: Ronald, Donald, Gerald, Harold). Sebastian, with the -ian ending, feels romantic to me and more familiar. The -dore in Theodore is dated as well, but Theo feels so modern and artsy. Theodore conjures images of Ancient Greece, and names from Ancient Greece and Rome are quite in style right now.
Reggie is definitely more approachable than Reginald, but I still picture the name on someone in a nursing home. Reginald reminds me of the name Henrietta. It's an ok name, but it feels like too much. Like, I can only picture it on a very specific person from the upper class.
I think Reginald could be saved if it ever gets used in popular culture for a young character who is extremely good-looking, heroic, and most importantly, not a joke character.
I'm someone who likes Arthur, Theodore, and Sebastian quite a bit. Theodore and Sebastian sound so much more youthful than Reginald. Arthur, at times, can sound a bit older too, but I think the nn Artie saves it as well as its connection to Arthurian legends and the author of Sherlock Holmes.
In addition, the -ald/-old ending feels quite dated (re: Ronald, Donald, Gerald, Harold). Sebastian, with the -ian ending, feels romantic to me and more familiar. The -dore in Theodore is dated as well, but Theo feels so modern and artsy. Theodore conjures images of Ancient Greece, and names from Ancient Greece and Rome are quite in style right now.
Reggie is definitely more approachable than Reginald, but I still picture the name on someone in a nursing home. Reginald reminds me of the name Henrietta. It's an ok name, but it feels like too much. Like, I can only picture it on a very specific person from the upper class.
I think Reginald could be saved if it ever gets used in popular culture for a young character who is extremely good-looking, heroic, and most importantly, not a joke character.
3
I have no idea if it’s the royal association, the sound, or the Archie Comics character, but something about “Reginald” makes me think of a guy who’s full of himself.
This message was edited 8/12/2022, 8:48 AM
2
In the US, Reginald is often seen by white people as a "black" name, because it's always been more popular on black boys' actually it was very popular for black boys for a good while. A lot of "black" names go in and out of fashion very quickly, like Ebony, Latoya, Darnell and Reginald, so Reginald just fell out of use less dramatically than others.
At the same time, Reginald is also seen as a stereotypical British-aristocrat's name, like Percy or Neville or Nigel. So it's got that working against it too.
I'm not aware of any well-known negative Reginald associations in the US; if anything, most of the Reginalds (almost always Reggie) people are likely to know about are well-known and respected athletes like Reggie Jackson, Reggie White and Reggie Bush.
At the same time, Reginald is also seen as a stereotypical British-aristocrat's name, like Percy or Neville or Nigel. So it's got that working against it too.
I'm not aware of any well-known negative Reginald associations in the US; if anything, most of the Reginalds (almost always Reggie) people are likely to know about are well-known and respected athletes like Reggie Jackson, Reggie White and Reggie Bush.
3
Reginald isn't a bad name, but it is very dated, and its time to come back into widespread popularity hasn't come around again. I did know a Reginald in college, so he would be about 30 now. He went by Reggie.
I put it in a similar category as Harold (#962 in the USA) and Gerald. Reginald is a bit longer, more unwieldy, and has old fashioned preppy vibes. Ronald has more pop culture references around it, so I think that has kept it a little more in use.
I do think Reginald will come back into fashion before Floyd and Ethel, but I think Alfred will start coming back into popularity first.
I put it in a similar category as Harold (#962 in the USA) and Gerald. Reginald is a bit longer, more unwieldy, and has old fashioned preppy vibes. Ronald has more pop culture references around it, so I think that has kept it a little more in use.
I do think Reginald will come back into fashion before Floyd and Ethel, but I think Alfred will start coming back into popularity first.
2
I don't know if there's any good reason for the name to be out of the top 1000. I'm actually very surprised it's been as highly-ranked as it has been. I've only encountered one Reginald in my lifetime.
I rather like it.
I rather like it.
2