Rónán, anglicised as Ronan, is an Irish and Breton male given name and surname. In modern sources, it is traditionally derived from rón, the Irish word for 'seal'. Alternatively, the name Ronan is associated with the Irish name Raghnall meaning 'mighty', anglicized as Ronald, Reginald, Crandall and Randall. In other cases, the name Ronan comes from the Irish surname O'Ruanaidhín a variation of O'Ruadháin. It is also from the personal name Ruadhán, meaning 'little red one', anglicized as Roan, Rowan and Roy. In Irish Mythology, the name is derived from a very old legend, which tells the story of a mother seal who is warned never to stray too closely to the land. When the seal is swept ashore by a huge wave, she becomes trapped in a human form, known as a "Selkie" or "seal maiden". Although she lives as the wife of a fisherman and bears him children, known as "ronans" or "little seals", she never quite loses her "sea-longing". Eventually she finds the "seal-skin" which the fisherman has hidden and slips back into the ocean. However, she cannot forget her husband and children and can be seen swimming close to the shore, keeping a watchful and loving eye on them. There are twelve Irish saints bearing the name of Ronan commemorated in the Martyrology of Donegal: These include: The name appears in an ogham inscription documented by the Ogham in 3D project as (transliteration: RO/NA/NN MAQ COMOGANN) or, Rónán, son of Comgán.

People with the given name

People with the surname

Fictional characters