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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is ROAN an actual, real irish name?

35 replies

amhurst · 31/01/2014 18:58

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!

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Theonlyoneiknow · 31/01/2014 20:16

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

geekaMaxima · 31/01/2014 20:15

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?

squoosh · 31/01/2014 20:13

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.

Drquin · 31/01/2014 19:56

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

SwedishEdith · 31/01/2014 19:50

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

trainersandaches · 31/01/2014 19:48

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

minniemagoo · 31/01/2014 19:43

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

adaloveslace · 31/01/2014 19:33

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

Original poster
amhurst · 31/01/2014 19:11

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.

OP posts:
JanineStHubbins · 31/01/2014 19:01

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