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Baby names

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Original poster

Rowan how do you pronounce ?

53 replies

ichifanny · 24/05/2018 10:00

I know it’s probably a regional thing just curious how people think this should be pronounced
Ro-an or Roww-Ann

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Aspergallus · 27/05/2018 10:20

Ichifanny know where you are coming from. I remember angsting a bit about it when we were naming him, especially as we were going against the grain locally, but it's really not an issue that causes a moments concern now (for really at any time). Remember that in Scotland, people are just relieved not to have to get their heads around Gaelic spellings!

Original poster
ichifanny · 27/05/2018 10:10

Thanks aspergallus I’m in central belt of Scotland I didn’t realise Row ( boat ) an was the female way in the highlands I assumed it was the Row ( argument ) way , but then the girl in the wicker man was Row ( boat ) I love both anyway and I guess people will follow our lead . I just don’t want to make any big grammatical errors with my child’s name .

OP posts:
FASH84 · 27/05/2018 09:47

Row (your boat) schwa n , but live in the south. First time I've realised my new phone can't do a schwa! (Upside down e represents unstressed round mid vowel)

immortalmarble · 27/05/2018 08:21

Row-ann.

Aspergallus · 27/05/2018 08:20

I'm in Scotland and have a boy, Row (your boat)-an.

It's not the traditional way here (highlands) as our pronounciation would normally be female and Row(have an argument)-an is the male version.

But it was a family name and we stuck with the boat version for our DS.

It has not been an issue at all. I have maybe corrected a nursery or school teacher once on first meeting and that's it. And now that he is old enough to have an opinion, he says he doesn't care -answers to either. Personally I think this very mild alternative pronouciation is a non issue when it's otherwise a really easy name to spell. I did wonder if, with our pronouciation and him being a boy, we'd get asked if it was Rohan but this has never happened. I'm very happy with our name choice. Although he will forever be his baby-name Row-row to me!

MaybeBabey · 26/05/2018 22:27

Row (like boat or bow) - en or Row(a)n (one syllable.)

Ninchninch · 26/05/2018 22:00

Row (your boat) un

Love the name!

SuperDuperJezebel · 26/05/2018 21:59

This is my name, pronounced Ro-win! DHs Scottish family all say it Ra-wen!

Macarena1990 · 26/05/2018 21:55

This is DD's friend's name. She is lebanese/jordanian and they pronounce it Row (like the argument!) ann

Jj2431 · 26/05/2018 14:04

Ro-an

Duck90 · 24/05/2018 23:17

Actually as bebebelge said row-un. Like the tree

Duck90 · 24/05/2018 23:15

Row (as in arguement) Ann. I’m Scottish also.

LionAllMessy · 24/05/2018 23:10

I've never heard anyone pronounce it like argument. How interesting!

I don't live in Scotland though.

heymammy · 24/05/2018 22:44

I would pronounce it the Scottish way for a girl and the Rowan Atkinson way from a boy.

And yes, the tree is also pronounced (have a) row-un! I've never heard it called a Rowan (Atkinson) tree. This is mad mental Grin

BebeBelge · 24/05/2018 22:38

Row (your boat) for a boy and Row (argument) for a girl!

greendale17 · 24/05/2018 22:36

Row-an

AntiqueOlive · 24/05/2018 22:32

pig - it is pronounced like the tree! - row ( have a ) - ann :-)

Scotland

HeyDolly · 24/05/2018 17:58

Row (boat) -un

Flicketyflack · 24/05/2018 15:08

Row -ann

YerAWizardHarry · 24/05/2018 15:08

Scottish here and also the argument way

pigmcpigface · 24/05/2018 15:04

Museum - I just looked it up, and it's the same split for the tree. Row (boat) in England, row (argument) in Scotland.

museumum · 24/05/2018 15:00

I say Row like an argument for the tree too.

museumum · 24/05/2018 14:59

Row like an argument for a girl.
Row like a boat for a boy.

TyrionLannistersShadow · 24/05/2018 14:57

I'd say Row (as in boat)-an , but its a soft an iykwim and the emphasis is on the first syllable in the word. I've never heard anyone pronounce it as 'Row (as in argument)-an' ever, but I'm in Ireland so maybe that's why.

pigmcpigface · 24/05/2018 14:54

I have a name that used to be unusual. It was mispronunced my whole childhood, until someone with the same name became famous, and now it's not an issue. The great thing is that the person in question is a few years younger than me, so I'm hoping people will assume I'm younger than I actually am Grin

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