Meaning: Its source is ragin mund, an Ancient Germanic name meaning "Protecting hands."

Languages: This boy's name is used in Spanish.

Feminine Forms: Ramona

Popularity: The name Ramon ranked 313th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 196th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: Imported to England with the Norman conquest of 1066, Raymond was used only sporadically until the mid-19th century.

Two Canadian-born actors gave its popularity a boost in the 20th century -- Broadway and film star Raymond Massey (1896-1983); and Raymond Burr (1917-1993), known to millions as the title character of the popular TV courtroom drama ''Perry Mason.''