Ron

Ron is a masculine given name, commonly used as a shortened form of Ronald. It is also adopted as an independent given name in its own right. The name Ronald derives from Old Norse Rögnvaldr, composed of elements meaning “ruler” and “power” or “adviser,” often interpreted as “ruler’s adviser.” As a nickname, Ron is widely used across English-speaking countries.

Usage and variants: Ron has been popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere since the mid-20th century. It remains in use, though it is frequently chosen as a nickname rather than a formal given name. Variants include Ronnie and Ronny, which are common diminutives, especially for younger individuals.

Notable people: Notable real people named Ron include American filmmaker and actor Ron Howard; American physician and former U.S. representative Ron Paul; American actor Ron Perlman; American musician Ron Mael; American politician Ron Wyden; and NFL coach Ron Rivera. The name is used across a range of professions and public profiles.

Fictional characters: In fiction, Ron Weasley is a central character in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series; Ron Stoppable is a sidekick in the animated series Kim Possible; Ron Burgundy is a fictional news anchor in Anchorman; Ron Swanson is a main character in Parks and Recreation.

Other uses: RON is the ISO currency code for the Romanian leu. In automotive and fuel contexts, RON stands for Research Octane Number, a measure of octane rating used to describe gasoline performance. The name Ron may also appear as part of various acronyms or in other cultural references.