Rögnvaldr

Rögnvaldr is a masculine given name of Old Norse origin. In medieval Norse and Norse-Gaelic contexts it appears in several spellings, including Rögnvaldr, Rognvaldr, Ragnvaldr, and later Latinized forms such as Reginald. The exact meaning is debated, but scholars generally view it as a compound connected with rulership and power.

In historical records, Rögnvaldr was a common name among rulers and nobles in Norse-Gaelic realms, especially in the Isles and Orkney. The best-known bearer is Rögnvaldr Guðrøðarson, a 12th‑century king of the Isles who ruled (often jointly) with his brother Óláfr and participated in dynastic conflicts of the era; he is described in sources such as the Chronicles of Mann and related chronicles.

Beyond the Isles, the name appears in Icelandic and Norwegian sources and has left modern literary and genealogical traces. In contemporary usage, the name survives in Nordic languages in forms such as Rögnvaldur (Icelandic) or Rognvaldr, and it appears in Anglophone contexts as Reginald.

Overall, Rögnvaldr reflects a widely distributed medieval Norse naming tradition that linked personal identity to rulership and lineage. While the given name is less common today, its historical resonance remains evident in the chronicles and genealogies of the Norse-Gaelic world.