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Baby names

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Original poster

Rohan or Rowan?

36 replies

Cookethenook · 06/05/2013 21:27

For DS2.

I like both spellings, but dp prefers Rohan as Rowan is more feminine in his opinion (I agree as I know a girl Rowan, but don't mind) I'm just slightly concerned that people will pronounce it Row-han instead of Row-en.

So, how would you say Rohan, which spelling do you prefer for a lad and also, suggestions for a middle name (we were thinking Felix)?

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AnayaLa · 10/06/2014 08:55

So silly. Rohan is a very old name with both Sanskrit/Hindi and Irish/Gaelic origins, the Sanskrit meaning is "one who takes the higher path" or " one who rises, ascends or achieves great heights." Note that Sanskrit is considered to be one of the oldest languages in the world (though like Latin no longer spoken) if not arguably, the oldest.

It did not originate with the Lord of the Rings or become popular because of a clothing store brand. Do your research people!

Original poster
Cookethenook · 13/05/2013 11:34

Thanks everyone- i think we're going with Rowan. Asked DP's family and they also thought it was the more phonetic and nicer spelling.

That, and very very oddly, we walked past Rowan Atkinson on Saturday!

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Laquila · 10/05/2013 09:05

I think Rowan or Roan are best for a boy. I would probably pronounce Rohan the same, as Row-an, but then would quietly wonder afterwards whether I should have said it 'Ro-Han'.

I once knew an Indian girl with a nephew called Rohinth, which I thought was gorgeous (also love Rohinton).

Do you like Roman?

kickassangel · 10/05/2013 06:04

Rohan is an Asian name, and fairly common in some communities. Pronounced Roe-Haan.

Use it if you want, but expect the H to be sounded by quite a few people, whether they know about the Asian name or not.

toffeelolly · 10/05/2013 04:32

Rowan is spelling for a boy. Know 2 boy's who are rowan.

Suzieismyname · 10/05/2013 04:24

Rowan. It's classic but not frequently used. I always think of Rowan Atkinson.
Rohan is a clothes shop. You wouldn't call your son Millets or Selfridges or Matalan, would you?

MissTweed · 10/05/2013 04:12

Rohan definitely as the only rowans u know are girls

thegreylady · 09/05/2013 19:12

Rowan is a girl [her surname is Marlowe :) ] and Rohan is a boy and a pair of walking trousers-I know a 7 year old Rohan.I'd pronounce them both the same though.

NumTumDeDum · 09/05/2013 16:11

Two famous male Rowans - Rowan Atkinson and Rowan Williams (ex Arch Bishop of Canterbury)

Weegiemum · 09/05/2013 15:10

I see it as very much a girls name, with an "ow" rather than an "oh" sound.

I'm in Scotland, though, and know several girls called Rowan, including one of dd1's best friends. It's normally as in Rowan tree.

I don't like Felix. Felix is a cat.

NumTumDeDum · 09/05/2013 15:04

Rowan is definitely a boy's name imo. I'd have gone for Rowena if I'd had a girl. What about Alfred as a middle name?

flowery · 09/05/2013 15:04

Rowan
[biased]

JojoMags · 09/05/2013 15:01

Rowan. I would pronounce the other Ro-han, perhaps out of ignorance but I won't be alone. I like Rowan Felix. It goes OK.

SilverBirdie · 08/05/2013 23:01

Alone not lane Smile

SilverBirdie · 08/05/2013 23:01

Rowan is fab. It would be dd2s name if she wasn't due to be pink.
Rohan is the Asian spelling/pronunciation I think, as well as being a clothing range though that lane wouldn't put me off.
Certainly more of a boys name than girls IMO.

Noah and Rowan fab together.
Names we considered as middle names for Rowan:
Rowan Toby
Rowan John
Rowan Samuel
Rowan Blake

Though all but one was for family reasons

BringBackBod · 08/05/2013 22:08

Rowan, definitely.
(I'm biased too Smile )

Rowan1204 · 08/05/2013 19:58

So my ds i called Rowan, so rather biased. We opted for this spelling as i always felt the girls version was spelt Rowen. I wasnt keen on Rohan and thought it sounded a bit too trendy, if you know what i mean, and perhaps a bit too 'rugged'? But they may be what you're after!
Lovely name though, always get comments on it and never thought of it as feminine. You may get few people calling him Ronan though!

farmersdaughter · 07/05/2013 13:40

My BIL is Rohan, girl I went to school with was Rowan.

Think 'H' is better a boys, looks more masculine to me.

ZolaBuddleia · 07/05/2013 10:57

Urgh, waited in a queue behind a woman doing loud parenting the other day who's son was called Rohan. She must have said it 40 times in 5 minutes, "Rohaaaan, come here, Rohaaan, good boy etc etc"

Rowan is lovely.

Geraldandhisgiraffe · 07/05/2013 10:41

Ro han is the one I know. Possible more like Ro harn.

whatagreatname · 07/05/2013 10:39

Rowan - I know 3 boys and 2 girls called this with the same spelling

Lovely name

MERLYPUSS · 07/05/2013 10:37

Ro-haarn. (have Sri Lankan friend) It is asian in my opinion. Rowan is somehow different. Rowan like a tree.

unebagpipe · 07/05/2013 08:17

Rowan Atkinson is spelt this way... And he's a man, so no problem!!!!

PicardyThird · 07/05/2013 07:08

Rowan is classic and lovely - I'd definitely go for it if I weren't in a country whose language would mangle the pronunciation - but Rohan, no, really wouldn't.

Original poster
Cookethenook · 07/05/2013 07:02

Sodding hate Felix- sorry! It just says 'cat' to me :) But it's DP's favorite so i said ok for a middle name. I think they sound fine together but Felix as a first name is a no from me i'm afraid.

I like that sp cinema but i think i would say 'Roan' if i saw it written.

I have a very stupid spelling for my name and it caused me no end of grief growing up. DS1 is Noah, so we're very much looking for a 'say it how it looks' first name!

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