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Baby names

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

Original poster

Rowan or Sonny?

83 replies

Peacefrog23 · 05/01/2020 10:45

Hi,

So pretty sure baby is going to be one of these. I love them both, and really cant decide.

Just wondering which you prefer?
And how many children do you know with these names?

Hopefully may help me to choose. If you don't like either just say which you prefer please!

Thanks so much for the help xx

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PlantPotting · 07/01/2020 09:27

I think Sonny is a lovely name and totally legitimate as an adult name these days. Won’t sound strange at all to the next generation seen as the name is more mainstream now. The pro rugby player Sonny Williams doesn’t seem to have struggled either 🤣

My daughter is called Rowan so I obviously like that name too although I do have to agree with a lot of the criticisms in this thread and to be honest if I’d realised she’d get called “Row” such a lot, or that the name was so ripe for confusion with (increasingly popular) Roman, I probably wouldn’t have picked it. But those things might not bother you OP so it just depends. I do like that it’s a tree name however I rarely make the tree connection anymore, as it’s my daughters name now, not the name of a tree (if that makes sense).

Good luck deciding!! X

burritofan · 07/01/2020 09:11

I know a little boy named Sonny and every time I see him I think, "Really, Sonny? Poor kid." Give your baby a proper name!

Not keen on Rowan either but at least it's a name. Just imagine an adult Sonny.

Astronica · 07/01/2020 06:52

I prefer Rowan.

Whatsyourflava · 06/01/2020 23:52

Sonny is definitely seen as a legitimate name these days, it’s just scraped into the top 100 boys names, so using this name is not going to cause alarm whatsoever. It’s a great name, really cool sounding and laid back.
Don’t like Rowan, too feminine for my tastes and hate inevitable nickname Row.

Marcipex · 06/01/2020 23:43

I suppose you could name them anything and call them Sonny.

Jossina · 06/01/2020 23:39

Sonny is a nickname. You could always name them Rowan and call them Sonny ;)

DidItWorkForYou · 06/01/2020 23:34
DidItWorkForYou · 06/01/2020 23:31

Rowan. Went to school with one. He was popular.

Sonny reminds me of an old man talking to a kid.

Or the Song by the rubber bandits about hanging yourself.

Marcipex · 06/01/2020 23:27

I know all girl Rowan’s and am in Devon, so it isn’t just seen as a girls name in Scotland.

I do know a Rohan that is pronounced the same. Rowan not Ro Han. His parents chose it from LOTR but misunderstood the pronunciation. He is extremely ‘spirited’.

Flymetothestars · 06/01/2020 18:08

Love the name Sonny 👍

Find Rohan/Roman/Roan/Rohan/Rowan etc all very dull feminine and downmarket 👎 Too many variations

ParanoidGynodroid · 06/01/2020 17:42

Sonny is awful, sorry... it's a nickname for a little boy, not a proper name.

I quite like Rowan, though.

MillicentMartha · 06/01/2020 13:36

What do you mean by common, @Poorolddaddypig? Popular or low class? Because Sonny...

Poorolddaddypig · 06/01/2020 07:38

Sonny is great! Rowan bit common

FluffyEggsontoast · 05/01/2020 21:47

Sonny feels a bit more special I agree 🥰 ❤️ Lovely name that has a lovely ‘feel’ to it.

Rowan/Roman/Roan/Rohan/Ronan all a bit run of the mill now and likely sound a bit dull to the next generation (especially given that Roman is the fastest rising name). A few years ago it was one of those names that was a bit fresh and different, but not now.

The Rowans I know are girls. Maybe the further up North in England you go the more it is regarded as a girls’ name maybe, seen as it’s definitely viewed as a girls name in Scotland. I’m in the North West of England.

Just depends if that is a concern.

Let us know what you decide @Peacefrog23

Original poster
Peacefrog23 · 05/01/2020 21:18

Wow! Great response, thanks everyone! Really given me some food for thought.
Its so interesting, hearing different people's perceptions of a name.
To me Sonny makes me think of sunny as in the weather and a surfer/ hippie sort of name rather than sonny jim, but i get how it mostly comes across as that.

And rowan, well i just love thats its a tree name, and the pagan mythology about it.
i have considered other tree names but this is the only one we both liked.

Thanks again, i will update when little sonny or rowan makes an appearance x

OP posts:
Pipandmum · 05/01/2020 21:16

Sonny is not even a nickname - it's what you call any boy.
My son is Rowam so I obviously like that...

Wheresthebiffer2 · 05/01/2020 20:43

I prefer Rowan (and consider it a boy's name). I know two aged8-10yrs.
I know one little boy called Sonny aged about two-three yrs.

kb16 · 05/01/2020 20:14

I'm due a little boy soon and we are calling him Sonny! Love it x

MamaMumMama · 05/01/2020 20:13

Both lovely names but I prefer Rowan.
If the above comments have put you off your chosen name how about Ronan?

MrsJoshNavidi · 05/01/2020 20:06

A) Sonny is a nickname for a little boy (short for son)

B) Sonny Jim Sad

Batmanandrobin123 · 05/01/2020 20:02

In England and Wales Rowan is far far more popular for a boy! I have never met a female Rowan and if you check the name stats it was the 89th most popular name for a boy last year and only the 455th most popular name for a girl! So unless you live in Scotland it won't be considered remotely 'girly', not that it matters.
I know 1 Rowan and 2 Sonnys. I personally prefer Rowan but I think Sonny is nice too.

Esspee · 05/01/2020 19:48

I love Rowan......for a girl. Sonny is not a name. Can you imagine a manager being called Sonny by junior staff. It just doesn't work.

Hepsibar · 05/01/2020 19:43

Is it for a girl or a boy do you know?

I absolutely love Rowena if it's a girl, which is just a slight tweak. Rowan always reminds me of Rowan Atkinson/Mr Bean ... but when I think about it do know some Rowan's who are lovely ... Sonny, have you been listening to that TV Ad, based on the 1970's song? It doesnt do it for me, but it's not the worst name that's been put forward on Mumsnet.

Spied · 05/01/2020 19:35

Love Sonny. It's a great name and I would have loved to use it.
Dislike Rowan for girl or boy (but see it as more a feminine name)

CuckooCachoo · 05/01/2020 19:29

I like both, but Sonny is more interesting IMO.

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