Is ROAN an actual, real irish name?

[amhurst]

I'm Irish, living abroad, looking for a nice not too usual Irish boy name. I have come across ROAN on a few sites and think it is v nice but I have never met nor heard of a Roan in Ireland..is it a bit of a made up irish Christian name? And apologies in advance don't want to offend anybody who has picked this name - am genuinely curious. I also really like IARLAITH but think the spelling will always be a problem. Many thanks for any thoughts!

[JanineStHubbins]

As far as i'm aware, Roan isn't an Irish name.

You can also spell your second name Iarla - like the singer Iarla Ó Lionáird

[amhurst]

Thanks..I have my suspicions..re iarlaith/ iarla...as is the pitfall of talking about names at all, when I said 'iarla' spelt with a simple 'a' - someone replied 'as in Carla??' Ruining all images of iarla o'L and replacing them with Ideas of Carla from Cheers ..bah.

[adaloveslace]

Rowan is a great boys (or girls) name. I know an Irish one but not sure about its heritage. Or Ronan.

[minniemagoo]

Roan is afaik and Americanised version of an Irish name. It would be more common in the US than in Ireland with that spelling.

[trainersandaches]

I think Roan's just the Garlic word for seal isn't it? Ronan is little seal btw!

[SwedishEdith]

Doesn't Roan mean bull or cow? Rhymes with Joan

[Drquin]

I've seen "Rohan" both in ireland and Scotland.
Pronounced "Ro-an" and "Ro-Han"

[squoosh]

I think 'rón' is seal, as in sea lion, not royal seal. I've never met anyone called Roan so can't be sure if it's an authentic name. Sounds a bit madey upy, but I could be wrong.

Rowan has the same sound and is more known.

[geekaMaxima]

Roan isn't a word in Irish - rón is the word for seal (the animal).

I've never heard of Roan as a name but I second seeing the name Rohan in Scotland. Maybe Roan is a derivation?

[Theonlyoneiknow]

I know a Rohan, Rowan and a Rion but haven't heard for Roan

[DramaAlpaca]

I'm in Ireland & I know an 8 year old Roan. No idea if it's an authentic Irish name or not.

[Yama]

I know a Scottish Roan. He's 6 and a lovely wee boy.

[Pontouf]

My cousin's youngest is Roan, pronounced Rowan. They're not Irish, not sure where it comes from, but it's really grown on me in the three years since he was born.

[MrsJoeDolan]

I think Iarla looks like a girl's name (sorry).

[nearlyreadytopop]

I have only ever heard the word roan in the context of the colour of a horse. But I am in NI so not much Irish being spoken.
I love Rowan and Ronan.

[angelinterceptor]

I'm in NI but never met a Roan

Do know a Rohan though

[RabbitPies]

There was a Roan in my primary class. He was Scottish though,but I loved the name,and it suited him.

[EnlightenedOwl]

Not very helpful but just read a book where the lead character was called Roan and portrayed as an Irish name but its not one I'd heard of before.

[LucyBabs]

trainersandaches pmsl at garlic word

[Grotbagstwin]

We have a Roan in our family, they are English.

[Diamondjoan]

Never came across it. I know a Ruadhan which is pronounced like Ruan.

[amhurst]

Thanks so much for thoughts! Finding it really difficult to find 'the' name..2 weeks to go! Poor nameless boy...also like RUAIRI but know the world wld prefer if I spelt it RORY...

[Yama]

Aye, but Ruairi/Ruaridh is pronounced Roo-ray, whereas Rory is Roar-ray.

I much prefer Roo-ray.

[sarahquilt]

Fionn if he's blond.
Ruan if he's got red hair.
Ciaran if he's dark.