Rowan Name Meaning

Understanding Rowan name meaning is important if you have it on your current roster. If you’re a first-time parent, you should know that many contributing factors around a name can affect your decision.

As with Rowan, besides its meanings, it’s best to dig deeper into its gender-suitability, famous namesakes, and interesting stories. These pieces of information will help you choose with full confidence!

A Summary Of The Name Rowan

This table will provide general information about Rowan. You can check it out before getting the detailed explanation:

Meaning	“Little red-head”, “red-haired”, “a river in paradise”, or “rowan tree”.
Origin	Irish, Scottish, and Arabic.
Pronunciation	/row-ahn/
Gender	Starting as a masculine name, Rowan has adopted a gender-neutral nature and can now be worn by both boys and girls.
Popularity	Rowan is a familiar name in the US. Compared to other unisex names, its popularity is split quite evenly between the two genders.  Yet, with its strong sound, the name is fairly preferred for boys. It ranked 106th and 241th for boys and girls, respectively.
Variations	Roy, Roan, Ruadhán, Rohan, Rowanne, Rowynn, Rowen, Rowina, Ruadh, Rowyn, Rowana, etc.
Nicknames	Roeie, Roe, Ro, Rowe, Rowi, Rowy, Roxy, Roo, Row, Rowie, Rowrow, Rowster, etc.
Similar Names	For Boys: Aidan, Arden, Roman, Ryan, etc.  For Girls: Olivia, Reagan, Wren, Teagan, etc.
Sibling Names	For Boys: Cameron, Harrison, Declan, Liam, etc.  For Girls: Amber, Chloe, Naomi, Willow, etc.
Middle Names	For Boys: Aaron, David, Eric, Philip, Victor, etc.  For Girls: Belle, Dawn, Elise, Hope, Marie, etc.

The History And Meanings Behind Rowan!

The name Rowan is of Irish and Scottish origin and primarily means “little red-head” or “red-haired”. It started as a surname first, in Ireland and England, before evolving into the given name as it is now.

In British traditions, people in the past often chose their surnames to reflect their settlement. Rowan can be a nice example. It first started as a choice of those dwelling around Rowan trees.

These people usually used the fruits and wood of these trees for their daily life. This use happened even before Rowan was adopted to represent red-haired people.

Rowan was also a surname from Scotland. It comes from “rone” – a Middle English word for “undergrowth” and “thicket”. This surname originates from the place name “Roan”, and there were some areas in Ayr, Roxburgh, and Berwick with this name.

Nevertheless, Rowan has more than one etymology. In Arabic, it is a feminine name and translates to “a river in paradise”. Another less-known root of this name is the Old Norse “raudnian”. In this case, its translation is “getting red”.

Rowan is not only attached to the red hue. The name also evokes the image of rowan trees – a small deciduous plant that bears red berries. In Celtic folklore, rowan trees symbolize courage, protection, and wisdom.

Is Rowan A Male or Female Name?

Rowan has been traditionally chosen for boys. The name is still more common with this role. Only in the 19th century did people increasingly use the name for girls. It is partially due to the rise of the female name “Rowena” around this time.

How Does Rowan Perform For Both Genders In The Us?

The waves of surnames turning into given names occurred in Britain during the 16th century. Rowan also jumped on this trend and has been circulated as a given name for males ever since.

This name is quite a newcomer on the popularity chart recorded by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Specifically, American parents only started frequently adopting Rowan as a male name in 1999. The name has shown promising performance so far.

It slides through the top 500 choices only five years later and then the top 200 after one decade. As a male title, Rowan seemingly heads towards the top 100 most used names very soon, as it already stood at 106th in 2021.

Not until 2003 did Rowan capture an impressive reputation as a girl name. From 2003 to 2015, the name was still in moderate use. It has become more familiar, but there’s still no breakthrough in popularity.

The name almost reached the top 200 most famous names in 2017 and 2018. However, these recent years have been slightly less successful for this feminine title. In 2021, as a result, it took some steps back to sit at 241th, as per SSA data ⁽¹⁾.

Variants Of Rowan Across Cultures

Rowan is not a heavily used name, at least in recent years. However, it’s surprising that the name has adopted various variants across languages.

Your Options Of Nicknames Or Similar Names For Rowan

Surprisingly, parents have devised multiple ways to abbreviate or alter Rowan to get catchy nicknames for their kids. This means you don’t have to invent a new one; just take your pick from these options:

Has Rowan already stolen your heart? If you’re searching for extra potential choices, why not think about these lovely names?

There are various girl names akin to Rowan in terms of pronunciation. Take a look, as some of them can catch your eyes, too!

Fantastic Sibling Names For Rowan To Consider!

Don’t forget about matching sibling names, as they can be the first bond between the kids.

For Sons

When Rowan welcomes a lovely brother, she’ll be more glad to know that his name is intentionally chosen to match hers.

If this happens, it will be a streak of 6 years straight that it crowns the SSA as the number 1 choice. While Liam is trendy, it’s not at all flashy. And you’ll love its interpretation, too – “strong-willed warrior”.

For Daughters

These girl names might come from separate origins from Rowan. Yet, pair them with Rowan, and you wonder why they sound too good together!

As you might guess, this nature name is interpreted as “willow tree”. It has recently garnered a big spotlight in the US (39th in 2021).

Top Suggestions Of Middle Names For Rowan

For your convenience, the section below offers some of the best middle names to pair with Rowan. Let’s see what can pique your interest:

For Sons

There is an abundance of male names to stand next to Rowan. Yet, two-syllable ones stand out in this case.

For Daughters

Most of these choices are recommended by parents who already have a Rowan in their house. They’re tested and true, so why not take your time and pick the best one:

This is not to mention renowned namesakes like the physicist Marie Curie and French queen Marie Antoinette.

Fictional Characters Named Rowan

Several works of fiction or art have featured this Irish/Scottish name. It is typically the choice for powerful men, some of whom are listed below:

Notable Personalities Named Rowan

Those named Rowan are often viewed as intellectual, charismatic, and athletic. If you wonder about famous namesakes of Rowan, here are a few examples:

FAQs

Are there any concerns I’ve yet to address about Rowan? If yes, check out these related queries to further understand the name:

Rowan Is Perfect For Your Little Red-Haired Baby!

There’s no doubt that Rowan fits nicely for a little red-haired kid. It also allows parents to honor their Celtic heritages, thanks to the name’s tie to the rowan tree.

Yet, if you don’t fall into either of these cases, it’s still a cool choice (especially if you love the letter “R”). So, have you decided yet? You can comment right below to share it with me. As always, every share of this post will be highly appreciated, so please hit the button!

References

1. ssa.gov. 2024. The Popularity Of A Name
2. britannica.com. 2024. Demeter, Greek mythology
3. worldhistory.org. 2017. King David