Would you use Regan or Regis?

Girl Names
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[name_m]Hi[/name_m] gang. I have two questions regarding two names on my list:

[name_u]Regan[/name_u] (REE-gan) is a name on my list, but I’m wondering if it’s usable? Seems most people want to pronounce it RAE-gan or they don’t like it because it reminds them of The Exorcist.

So what do you think? Would you use [name_u]Regan[/name_u]?

Second question: I read a book once that had a teenage girl named [name_m]Regis[/name_m]. I had never considered this for a girl, but I like it. Would you use it or is it too [name_m]Regis[/name_m] [name_m]Philbin[/name_m] for your taste?

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I would pronounce [name_u]Regan[/name_u] as [name_u]Rae[/name_u]-gan. I don’t mind [name_m]Regis[/name_m]!

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3

Both names are usable, but not my style, so I would not use them on my kids. I have no associations with those names, good or bad.
I would pronounce [name_m]Reagen[/name_m] ([name_f]Ree[/name_f]-gan).

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4

I think [name_u]Regan[/name_u] is usable. I think most people (most that I’ve seen online, anyway) pronounce this spelling as REE-gan and [name_u]Reagan[/name_u] as RAE-gan.

Regis definitely makes me think of [name_m]Regis[/name_m] [name_m]Philbin[/name_m]. [name_m]Don[/name_m]’t know how I feel about the name on a girl (or a boy, really).

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5

I went to school with a girl named [name_u]Regan[/name_u], pronounced REE-gan, and it definitely worked. I think it’s usable!

I only think of [name_m]Regis[/name_m] [name_m]Philbin[/name_m] when I hear [name_m]Regis[/name_m]. And as others have said I don’t know how usable it is right now.

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6

They are both quite nice. I think [name_u]Regan[/name_u] is definitely usable. It’s spunky and fun.

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7

I think I am the default to everything you’re worried about in the two names. I see [name_m]Regis[/name_m] all I can think of is [name_m]Philbin[/name_m]. I see [name_u]Regan[/name_u] and I say [name_u]Rae[/name_u]-gan (didn’t even know until this post that there was another pronunciation). So maybe just be prepared for the inevitable with both of these :wink:

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8

I think unless people are familiar with [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m], they will want to say [name_u]Regan[/name_u] like [name_u]Ray[/name_u]-gan. That’s how I said it before I read [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Lear[/name_m], and honestly how I’d pronounce it if I saw it written on a class roster.

Regis is all male to me. I think [name_u]Regan[/name_u] would work if you don’t mind correcting people.

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9

I’m from the UK and have only ever heard [name_u]Regan[/name_u] pronounced [name_f]Ree[/name_f]-gan here. But when I’ve come across the name on US shows, it tends to be pronounced [name_u]Ray[/name_u]-gan, which never seemed right to me. I think [name_u]Regan[/name_u] should be pronounced [name_f]Ree[/name_f]-gan, and that [name_u]Ray[/name_u]-gan is the pronunciation for [name_u]Reagan[/name_u], like the president, or [name_f]Raegan[/name_f].

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10

In NZ we definitely say [name_f]Ree[/name_f]-gan and it’s probably seen more on boys than girls

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11

I always said [name_u]Regan[/name_u] as ray-gan, but my sister has a friend called ree-gan, my sister never even thought to say it my way. I will say though that she hasn’t heard of [name_m]Ronald[/name_m] [name_u]Reagan[/name_u], if you’re in the US that’ll likely be most people’s first association. I do like [name_m]Regis[/name_m], but not on a girl.

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12

@Mamaofthree8696 I agree. Maybe if you spelled it Reegan?

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13

I’d prounce [name_u]Regan[/name_u] as [name_u]Rae[/name_u]-gan but ree-gan makes sense too. It’s a nice name

Regis is interesting and reminds me of the beach. I’d probably save save it for a middle name though

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14

Thanks for all the feedback guys. [name_u]Regan[/name_u], traditionally, is supposed to be pronounced REE-gan while [name_u]Reagan[/name_u] is like the former [name_m]President[/name_m]. I love [name_u]Regan[/name_u] because it reminds me of the word “regal” which conjures up such lovely images for me. But I grew up having a hard-to-pronounce name and don’t want to saddle a kid with that. I thought [name_m]Regis[/name_m] might be an alternative but I get that it’s traditionally a boy name and the [name_m]Philbin[/name_m] association.

I’ll continue to think about it.

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15

I don’t think the [name_m]Philbin[/name_m] association is a massive issue. I had to look up who he is (I’m 15, if that matters), so I don’t think the association will be among kids your child’s age.

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16

So I rather like [name_u]Regan[/name_u] (Reminds me of [name_u]Tegan[/name_u] which I love!). I don’t like [name_u]Reagan[/name_u]- [name_u]Rae[/name_u]-gan as it reminds me of the [name_m]President[/name_m] who I do not like but I think most people would get it. [name_m]Regis[/name_m] makes me think of “[name_m]Regis[/name_m] and [name_u]Kelly[/name_u]” and reads as a boys name. I prefer [name_u]Regan[/name_u] though I would not use it myself.

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