Ron

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A personal name commonly used for males ; a shortened form of the given name Ronald ; a term that may refer to multiple notable people, fictional characters, or celebrities known by this name
2. Used as a masculine first name in English-speaking countries ; an abbreviation for Ronald ; can indicate various individuals or public figures who bear the name
3. Recognized as a male forename ; a familiar diminutive version of Ronald ; identifies a range of persons, both real and fictional, with this designation

Etymology: Ron is most often a short form of Ronald, which comes from the Old Norse name Rögnvaldr, built from "regin" (counsel, or the gods) and "valdr" (ruler). The name reached the British Isles with Scandinavian settlers, and its Gaelic form Raghnall, borne by Scottish kings and chieftains, carried it into Scotland and Ireland. Shortening a long name to one or two syllables is an old habit, and Ronald has been shortened this way for centuries. Ron is also used as a pet form of Aaron, from the Hebrew Aharon. The meaning of Aharon is uncertain. Scholars have proposed several explanations, but none is settled. Because the two names end in the same sound, the short form serves both, and many people called Ron are named after one of them without ever being told which.

Synonyms: rum