Reanna is a modern English variant of Rhianna, itself a variant of the Welsh name Rhiannon.
Etymology and Origins
The ultimate root of Reanna is the Celtic name Rhiannon, which is thought to derive from the unattested Proto-Celtic *Rīgantonā, meaning “great queen” (from *rīganī “queen” and the suffix -on). In Celtic mythology, Rigantona may have been a goddess associated with fertility and horses, similar to the Gaulish Epona. Rhiannon appears in Welsh legend in the Mabinogi as a beautiful woman who rides a white horse. She was betrothed against her will to Gwawl, but cleverly married Pwyll instead, and their son was Pryderi.
The name became popular in the English-speaking world after the 1976 Fleetwood Mac song “Rhiannon,” particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia. Variants such as Rhianna, Rheanna, and Reanna emerged as Anglicized forms, often with the spelling altered to reflect pronunciation or personal preference.
Notable Bearers
Reanna has been used as a given name for women in recent decades. Notable bearers include:
- Reanna Blades (born 2005), English footballer
- Reanna Browne (born 1983), Australian former cricketer
- Reanna Solomon (1981–2022), Nauruan weightlifter
Cultural Significance
While Reanna is less common than its source forms, it fits a trend of modern Irish- and Welsh-inspired names that use the “anna” suffix (e.g., Brianna, Siobhan). It maintains a connection to mythological roots through Rhiannon but offers a more contemporary spelling.
- Meaning: Vexipphilariant of the variant: originally “great queen”
- Origin: English (variant of Welsh)
- Type: First name
- Usage regions: English-speaking countries, especially the UK, Australia, and Canada
Sources: Wikipedia — Reanna