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Baby names

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

Original poster

What do you think of the name Rowan? (For a girl)

58 replies

AnnaSparks · 12/03/2019 13:14

Some honest opinions on Rowan (pronounced Row-Uhn) would be great. Do you like it? What do you think of it as a girl’s name?

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GVmama · 12/03/2019 15:52

I've known male and female Rowan's too. It wasn't a name I was a huge fan of when my sister chose it for my niece, but it's really grown on me and I love it now.
We call her Row and Ro-Ro for short or Rowan-Berry for long Grin

wejammin · 12/03/2019 15:50

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Duckee · 12/03/2019 15:49

Gorgeous name. I think it's completely unisex. I've known girls and boys called Rowan.

aliceandkids77 · 12/03/2019 15:48

I personally don't love the name Rowan. Some other unisex names that are prettier imo are Tatum, Blake, Scout. if you love it though then go for it no body else's opinions matter at the end of the day!

PrincipalSkinner · 12/03/2019 15:44

In my area there are lots of boys called Rowan, no girls.

Pemba · 12/03/2019 15:41

But how can 'ow' as in 'ow i stubbed my toe' sound softer than an 'oh' sound? The second one is softer, surely?

Bigonesmallone3 · 12/03/2019 15:40

Odd for a girl imo

Original poster
AnnaSparks · 12/03/2019 15:38

I think I actually prefer the Scottish row-un (row like an argument) pronounciation. Softer for a girl.

OP posts:
ForTheLoveOfDoughnuts · 12/03/2019 15:23

I love it. Very pretty.

HareandTortoise · 12/03/2019 15:21

Adore it for a girl and would be on my list for any future DD. Not as keen for a boy. The only one I've ever known is female though so I'm probably influenced by that.

Pemba · 12/03/2019 15:09

Rowan (like row the boat) I think of as a girls' name, having known about 3. I know there is Rowan Atkinson, and the ex-Archbishop of Canterbury etc., but it still seems more feminine to me. Like rowan berries. I quite like it.

Aquamarine1029 · 12/03/2019 14:59

Love it. It's a wonderful name for a girl.

Saffrona · 12/03/2019 14:45

Sounds like a boys name. But don’t like it as a boys name either.

BoswellsBollocks · 12/03/2019 14:41

DS1 would have been Rowan if he’d been a girl. I met an adorable 3 yo one while I was pregnant, it suited her so much with her red/brown hair and big brown eyes, I fell in love with the name for a girl.

bridgetosomewhere · 12/03/2019 14:41

If you say it as rowan (argu) it's definitely a girls name but I wouldn't think twice about it being a the boat way either.

It's such a pretty name

In Scotland it would be the argue way and I think it sounds prettier

Not keen on Rowena sounds like a witch for some reason!!

bibbitybobbityyhat · 12/03/2019 14:39

I prefer it for a boy.

spiderlight · 12/03/2019 14:37

Love love love it. I intended to use it for our #2 (boy or girl regardless) - never got the chance but still think it's a fabulous name.

99point9FahrenheitDegrees · 12/03/2019 13:42

I love it, and was coming on to say Antonia Forest too.

Champagnebrain · 12/03/2019 13:39

Boys name.

Ask Roman Atkinson

NuffSaidSam · 12/03/2019 13:33

Using the BBC baby name checker thing (2017 one because I don't think there is one for 2018 yet) there were 626 boys called Rowan and 90 girls. Definitely more common for boys, but definitely a girls name too.

SpottyPython · 12/03/2019 13:32

I really like it, and definitely think of it as a suitable girls name. Really nice.

PetsFactor · 12/03/2019 13:31

My friend has that name. Couldn’t imagine it shortening to anything, it is what it is

KingLooieCatz · 12/03/2019 13:31

I know a Rowan, she's lovely and it never occurred to me that it was even unusual for a woman. Doesn't seem odd at all.

AdaColeman · 12/03/2019 13:30

I think of it as more of a male name.

Have you considered Rowena, which is both pretty and unusual?

mastertomsmum · 12/03/2019 13:28

A few years back I knew a female Rowan and that was the only one I've ever met. At the time I did not know that she was trans. It's great that she is but does make me think it might be even more unusual as a girls name as it was her original given name.