21

Per Wizarding World (formerly Pottermore), Ron's full name is Ronald Bilius Weasley and he uses his family name Ron Weasley. I recognize that even the first time he met Harry, he called himself "Ron" and not "Ronald":

Ron: Excuse me, do you mind? Everywhere else is full.

Harry: No, not at all.

Ron: {sits across from Harry} I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley.

I only remember when Ron gets a Howler in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, we find out that his real name was Ronald.

Did Ron ever mention his full name anywhere?

Improve this question
14
  • 4
    Has anyone in the world actually been named "Ron"? I'm pretty sure it's always a shortened version of "Ronald".
    – LevenTrek
    Commented Aug 31, 2020 at 6:59
  • 5
    @LevenTrek - In the UK, there are approximately 10 "Ron"s born each year; names.darkgreener.com/#ron
    – Valorum
    Commented Aug 31, 2020 at 7:16
  • 5
    @LevenTrek “Ron” is also a nickname for someone whose full name is Aaron or Cameron.
    – Mike Scott
    Commented Aug 31, 2020 at 7:29
  • 13
    Sounds to me like you may be from a country/culture where using shortened nicknames is not as normal as in English speaking countries (at least US and UK), so I'll add: As far as I understand, going by Ron in all but the most formal of settings, when your real name is Ronald, is not unusual in those countries.
    – Kazim
    Commented Sep 1, 2020 at 6:58
  • 4
    @someoneuseless Your assumption is bad: in many parts of the world, using nicknames is extremely common. Using someone's full name when they have introduced themselves with a nickname can be off-putting. But if you want to pursue that, it's likely best to ask another question (maybe at the interpersonal stack?)
    – fectin
    Commented Sep 1, 2020 at 15:22

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
51

Textually, we learn that Ron is short for Ronald in the middle of the first book, when Dumbledore and Harry speak about the Mirror of Erised.

‘Yes and no,’ said Dumbledore quietly. ‘It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

And it's not until book 7 that we learn his full name.

‘“The Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore” … yes, here we are … “to Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, in the hope that he will remember me when he uses it.”’

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

At no point does he ever introduce himself as Ronald, although his teachers and parents use the name repeatedly.

Improve this answer
5
  • 3
    this answer is better than mine but I'm pretty sure McGonagall says "Ronald" for the sorting hat... (movie/book 1)
    – LevenTrek
    Commented Aug 31, 2020 at 7:36
  • 14
    @LevenTrek - In the book it's told from Harry's persective; "then it was Ron’s turn. He was pale green by now. Harry crossed his fingers under the table and a second later the hat had shouted, ‘GRYFFINDOR!’ - No mention of his name
    – Valorum
    Commented Aug 31, 2020 at 7:38
  • 4
    Spoiler alert? :-(
    – Strawberry
    Commented Sep 2, 2020 at 9:25
  • 2
    @Strawberry For Harry Potter? It's 2020.
    – user91988
    Commented Sep 2, 2020 at 14:23
  • @user91988 Well, I've never seen it
    – Strawberry
    Commented Sep 2, 2020 at 14:24
20

The first time the name "Ronald" is spoken is in the first movie, when Professor McGonagall calls him up to be sorted into his house.

According to the movie scripts, he never introduces or refers to himself as Ronald.

Improve this answer
2
  • 9
    I just noticed that the ordering of the students in the movie version of Sorting is all over the place.
    – HighVoltage
    Commented Aug 31, 2020 at 23:25
  • 22
    @HighVoltage what, were you not ordered by narrative tension at your school?
    – potestasity
    Commented Sep 2, 2020 at 11:52
3

Ron presents his name as Ronald on the sign fixed to his bedroom door. This is first seen when Harry arrives at the Burrow in Chapter 3 of Chamber of Secrets:

They climbed two more flights until they reached a door with peeling paint and a small plaque on it, saying 'Ronald's Room'.

It's not his full name (there's no mention of "Bilius"), and it's not verbal, but Ron is definitely introducing himself to his guests as "Ronald" here.

Improve this answer
3
  • It's unlikely that he made the sign himself. Probably it was crafted or bought by his parents.
    – Valorum
    Commented Sep 21, 2023 at 14:46
  • It doesn't seem like the sort of thing he is forced to keep there, considering how much agency he has in decorating the rest of his room. If he chooses to keep it there, it doesn't matter who created or gave him the plaque.
    – Zayn
    Commented Sep 21, 2023 at 14:49
  • 3
    I'm not saying this is a bad answer, just that door signs are normally bought by the parents rather than by the child, and we know that Mrs Weasley uses his full name.
    – Valorum
    Commented Sep 21, 2023 at 15:01

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.