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Baby names

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

Original poster

I like baby name Rowan BUT....

59 replies

MissHenty · 04/09/2019 09:16

I already have one DC (now 5yo) go through preschool and baby groups, and everywhere I go there has been a selection of Rowan, Roman and Ronan’s (also Reubens but that’s less confusing). I think all those names must now be top 100 so they are likely to mix regularly and are SO SIMILAR. I’ve noticed the parent has to keep explaining how their child’s name is spelt to decipher them from the other names. No thanks!

Anyway thinking of alternative names.... perhaps Lucas? What do you think? Something fairly soft and gentle sounding. ie nothing like Hunter or Wolf.

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Nearlyalmost50 · 10/09/2019 10:24

I don't think Rowan or Ronan would get mixed up with anything else, these are known names (e.g. celebs have them), Roman might.

It's your baby's name, so you have to be happy with it though, so if you like some of the other options- go for it!

Original poster
MissHenty · 10/09/2019 09:24

@mintich yes Seth is lovely isn’t it! So gentle but very manly

OP posts:
Original poster
MissHenty · 10/09/2019 09:23

@Nearlyalmost50 thank you for taking the time to reply. I think I’ve explained myself badly as I’m really not bothered about popularity! I like the name Noah for example and don’t care there’s a few others around.

It’s the fact that both RoMan and RoMan used to be extremely rare but are now very mainstream and I’ve heard them get mixed up many times. I’d just rather avoid that hassle of having to say how the name is spelt each time. (Also I think both names could date given they were previously unheard of and are now very mainstream. Could be a Darren type name or a Stacey/Tracey feel in ten years?! Who knows...?!). I’ve seen he RoMan/Rowan confusion first hand with my own eyes so I know it happens now. But know a couple of years ago it wouldn’t have been a problem

It would be like if Noah and a name like Nowah were both top 50 names. And you’d continually have to decipher between the two.
Hopefully that explains it betteR.

I like gentle sounding names. A name like peter or Noah or Seth or Ben or Otis is unlikely to continually get asked “is that’s x or Y?!”

Thank you again for replying xx

OP posts:
mintich · 10/09/2019 09:15

I really like Seth! I'd never considered that name before

Nearlyalmost50 · 10/09/2019 08:02

I think you are overthinking this. One of mine has a pretty unusual name. Guess what- in her Guide group on her first holiday away of 20 kids- there was one with the same unusual name! The one with the more common name has one similar in her school year- spelled differently. They don't mind this at all.

If your children are in schools wit 100's of people and they go out to clubs/activities, chances of never meeting another Ben or Peter is still quite low. And they will meet lots of older people with these names.

Just pick the name you like and stop worrying about the rest!

Original poster
MissHenty · 10/09/2019 07:55

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I’ve already seen it myself a number of times where there’s been both a RoWan and a RoMan in the local playgroup or nursery class (different kids of course not the same two individual RoWan and RoMan’s that keep meeting!). Also come across a RoNan and a RoHan.

Looked at the graphs of the name statistics and wasn’t surprised to see both RoWan and especially RoMan dramatically rising in popularity. Apparently there’s a very famous YouTuber called RoMan - that probably explains the explosion of the name recently

5 years ago I never came across either name but now it’s only going to get worse and worse and both are increasing dramatically in popularity and showing no signs of slowing.

Lovely names just too similar and ripe for confusion.

Thank you so much for alternative suggestions. Am thinking about Sonny, Milo and Ben xx

OP posts:
AverageMummy · 10/09/2019 07:36

Noah is also lovely though & I think sometimes we focus on ‘logical’ reasons for discounting a name because our heart just isn’t feeling it.

AverageMummy · 10/09/2019 07:34

I think they won’t be muddled in the playground: Rowan is 0.15% of babies & Roman 0.12%
So in my secondary school of 700 that statistically would be 1 child!
The current fashion is for parents to try to be as unique as possible so even the very top names are nothing like the popularity the top names of our generation would be.
1 Rowan & 1 Roman who could be age 12 & age 15 are hardly going to have problems identifying themselves.

Original poster
MissHenty · 08/09/2019 15:40

@ThatCurlyGirl

Thank you so much for taking the time to think of names for me. People are so kind

I really like Milo and Sonny and Ben from that list. Noah too

I don’t mind about popularity of Noah. It’s because RoWan and RoMan (and, less of them about but also, Ronan) are so similar and increasingly popular especially RoMan

Thank you so much will discuss with DH

OP posts:
ThatCurlyGirl · 06/09/2019 13:12

Seth
Sonny
Samuel
Sam
Ben
Jude
Milo
Saul
Oscar
Noah

Are of these along the right lines @MissHenty?

I'm sure some have been suggested before is apologies if they all have!

Original poster
MissHenty · 06/09/2019 12:08

*more

OP posts:
Original poster
MissHenty · 06/09/2019 12:08

Seth, Saul, Gabriel, Jonathon

I love these names thank you !

I don’t mind so much about popularity it’s much the confusion when you have 3 names that are almost identical that are all fairly popular

Thank you again

OP posts:
Original poster
MissHenty · 06/09/2019 11:36

@Powerplant - that’s lovely you have a 29 year old Rowan. 29 years ago the name was very rare and the name RoMan was unheard of. Now there are over 1,000 RoMans being born each year and approaching 800 RoWans (plus quite a few RoNans). So yes things are very different in the playground now and the three names do get muddled as so similar

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PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 05/09/2019 22:25

You can if you hold down the “i” @Tattyjet

(Yes I am a pedant)

Powerplant · 05/09/2019 21:51

I have a 29 year old Rowan and it’s only my sister who spells her name wrong! I haven’t met any other Rowans apart from a boy who was a year below my daughter in school years ago

BertrandRussell · 05/09/2019 21:51

Bear in mind that in 2018, there were only 1018 babies called Roman- that’s I:294 boys. And Rowan is 1:423.. So you would be incredibly unlikely to have one in your school year. The top 100 thing can be misleading. I’d go with Rowan if I were you!

wizzler · 05/09/2019 21:46

Gabriel / Gabe?

Ilovewillow · 05/09/2019 21:43

Rowen is a lovely name and I agree sounds very gentle. I have a Seth so also think it's awesome - it is a gentle name!

31RueCambon75001 · 05/09/2019 21:38

Great minds!

Callistone · 05/09/2019 21:33

Seth is an awesome name. How about Saul?

31RueCambon75001 · 05/09/2019 21:30

Saul

SaltedCaramelEverything · 05/09/2019 21:25

OP I think Luca is also in the top 100. Just thought I’d say as you said you like Lucas and want to avoid any muddles

Tattyjet · 05/09/2019 20:58

Ps - I love Rowan too! I think if you love it most, go for it! I actually didn’t go for my favourite name for my daughter (because a friend who lives the other end of the country had used it) and still kind of wish I had!

Tattyjet · 05/09/2019 20:51

Also meant to say Jonathan (Jonty) is a lovely name with lots of options and soft sounding - seems like the 80s names are a good bet if you want to miss the top 50!
My wildcard is Ray! Loads of Lily-Rae girls but I love Ray as a stand-alone name for a boy. Also Jasper and Jay.
Once worked with an Oisin (oh-sheen) which sounds gorgeous. Can’t add the correct accent on phone!

whatswithtodaytoday · 05/09/2019 20:49

I love Rowan, Reuben and Lucas but couldn't use them because friends have already, and I have a Felix.

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