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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Boys names, and what do you think about Rowan?

35 replies

overthemoon2009 · 11/10/2009 19:40

Hi

Like a few other people, I am struggling to find a boys name that my husband and I both like.

We really like Rowan, but because it can also be a girls we are not so sure about it.

I seem to like names ending in "...an". Dylan, Ewan, Ethan etc. My husband likes these names, but associates them with various people and so is put off them. E.g. we like Ethan, but would everyone just think we were inspired by Ethan Hawke?? I expect also that Dylan and Ewan are v popular at the moment - is this right?

Can you suggest any similar names that might be a bit more unusual?

Thanks!

OP posts:

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jacks1972 · 11/10/2009 19:56

I really like Rowan, but for a girl. It is on my shortlist in case we are having a girl - don;t want to show my hand too soon or my husband will reject. I love Dylan, it as a name I always wanted but my husband has ruled it out from Day 1.

I don't think you should rule out Ethan just becuase of Ethan Hawke, it's a lovely name.

janeite · 11/10/2009 19:59

I really like Rown as a boys' name - dd2 would have been it. I don't like it as a girls' name and have never met nor heard of a female Rowan. Dylan is lovely too but I don't like Ethan or Ewan.

The only similar names I can think of, I don't like: Ryan, Roman, Ronan.

MaryBS · 11/10/2009 20:00

I like it, but I always think of the Archbishop of Canterbury when I hear the name.

How about Nathan?

Or to be really obscure, D'Artagnan

janeite · 11/10/2009 20:00

Rowan, sorry. Not Rown!!

overthemoon2009 · 11/10/2009 20:01

Thanks Jacks1972. I too really like Dylan and would happily go with this as no.1, but it has been vetoed- I think my husband used to work with someone called Dylan or something like that.

OP posts:

Pingpong · 11/10/2009 20:03

I like Rowan for a girl, not a boy.
I like Ewan for a boy or Dylan, Ethan is definitely quite popular but I am less keen on that one.

Adryath · 11/10/2009 20:03

The only Rowans I know are boys so I associate it with being a boys name. As a consequence I think it's quite a masculine-sounding name for a girl.

3HotCrossBuns · 11/10/2009 20:05

I like Rowan for a boy but love love it for a girl. DD1 was very nearly Rowan - and I was concerned too many people would think she was a boy. I think Dylan is more popular than Ethan but don't actually know any boys of either name.

Disenchanted3 · 11/10/2009 20:06

Boys name to me.

Lovely.

Disenchanted3 · 11/10/2009 20:07

Rohan?

NinthWave · 11/10/2009 20:10

My DS's middle name is Rowan, and we got a lot of lovely compliments on it when he was born

pookamoo · 11/10/2009 20:11

I love Rowan, for a boy or a girl, it is my DD's name, so I am biased . It's a beautiful, special name.

We had a middle name picked out and I was so convinced she was going to be a girl that we didn't have a boy's name chosen.

The midwife said "have you a name for this baby?" and we said "yes if it's a girl, if not, the book's in the bag!".

We did consider using Rowan if it was a boy, but the middle name we had chosen is a girl's name and we couldn't bring ourselves to change it - the two run together so perfectly.

Luckily she is a girl!
But I still say yes, have Rowan for a boy!

Alternatively, Owen has a similar sound...

argento · 11/10/2009 20:12

I know too little boys called Rowan - sounds more like a boys name than a girls to me. And it's lovely!

pookamoo · 11/10/2009 20:12

Ooh yes Disenchanted, Rohan for a boy! Lovely!

Chrysanthamum · 11/10/2009 20:19

I love Rowan. It was on our list but we ended up picking Louis Finn. I love Pierce for a boy obviously but dh didn't agree.

Regularcalledrowan · 11/10/2009 20:21

Well I think it is lovely,boy or girl.

I think it is usually more seen as a male name and get any junkmail addressed to Mr Rowan X as a rule

Scottie22 · 11/10/2009 20:24

Rowan - definitely a boys name for me too (Rowan Atkinson and all that!) Is a great name and I like 'Rohan' spelling too. Ethan is really popular around here so depends if you mind that? I know a Dylan and an Ewan.

Kellan - heard this one recently - I think it's cornish.

Owen - really nice - doesn't seem overly popular except maybe in Wales!

BibiBOO · 11/10/2009 20:25

I love Rowan, it's my nephew's name and it's just perfect for a boy or girl I think.
Not oo popular round these parts either.

janeite · 11/10/2009 20:26

Owen - nice / you don't hear of it very often.

Ondine · 11/10/2009 21:33

I like Rowan for a boy, not so much for a girl

I think Euan is very nice and not too popular.

Robin is also sweet.

mwff · 11/10/2009 21:40

evan is nice, esp if you have any welshness in the family.

pointyhat · 11/10/2009 21:49

I only like Rowan for a girl. Reasonably common in scotland.

How about Aidan? I like Aidan.

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mwff · 11/10/2009 21:50

lol pointy just reminded me how about adrian? now that's pretty unusual these days.

pointyhat · 11/10/2009 21:52

no, not adrian. That's not so good, is it

tearinghairout · 11/10/2009 21:52

I luuuuuuuuuuuuurve Rowan.

Please not Dylan. It's today's Kevin or Jason.

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