How Many People Are Named Ronald?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Ronald

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 73,156 living people in the United States currently have the first name Ronald. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 151,105 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #37 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~73,156CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)151,105Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#37U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1948 (3,338 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~73,156
Historical Births (SSA)
151,105
All-Time Rank
#37
Historical Peak
1948

Key Insights for Ronald

Estimated Living Bearers
~73,156 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#37
Top 100 All-Time Classic
Historical Peak Year
1948
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
85% Male · 15% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~9,145 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Ronald

Living Population Model
~73,156

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
151,105

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
133,333

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
64.2 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1948

Highest annual total: 3,338 registrations in 1948.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (-11%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Ronald has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Ronald (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1948 (~3,338 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201014140
201113130
201212120
201311110
201410100
2015990
2016990
2017990
2018990
2019880
2020880
2021880
2022880
2023880
2024770

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
98/100
1950s
94/100
1960s
66/100
1970s
35/100
1980s
14/100
1990s
4/100
2000s
1/100
2010s
1/100
2020s
1/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Ronald has been predominantly masculine (85% male vs 15% female).

Male: 85% (~128,499 births)Female: 15% (~22,606 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Ronald

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Ronald in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Ronald appeared 133,333 times, ranking #464 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
133,333 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#464
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Ronald Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~9,145 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~9,14512.5%
Texas (TX)~6,7309.2%
Florida (FL)~4,9756.8%
New York (NY)~4,4636.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~2,9264%
Illinois (IL)~2,8533.9%
Ohio (OH)~2,6343.6%
Georgia (GA)~2,4143.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 73,156 people named Ronald are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 64.2 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Ronald: 64.2 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ronald

How many people in the U.S. are named Ronald?

Approximately 73,156 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Ronald. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 151,105 birth applications for Ronald between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Ronald?

Ronald ranks #37 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This puts Ronald among the 100 most common first names in American history.

When was the name Ronald most popular in America?

The name Ronald reached its peak historical popularity in 1948, when 3,338 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Ronald?

Ronald has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Ronald?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Ronald has been predominantly masculine (85% male vs 15% female).

Where is the name Ronald most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Ronald resides in California, with approximately 9,145 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Ronald in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Ronald appeared 133,333 times in census returns, ranking #464 in official 2020 returns.

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