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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby girl name spelling

37 replies

Wishingtobemum94 · 22/04/2024 04:33

I am am having a little girl in June I loveeee the name Rowan for a girl however my husband does not like the W lol so we could go for spelling 'roan' tho I don't want people to pronounce it wrong I still want it to sound like ro-an, how would you say 'roan'?

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GogLais · 23/04/2024 14:33

I'd say Roan to rhyme with bone.

Don't call her Rhian - she'll get called Ree-un, Ree-Anne and Rhian. The name is fine but a bit dated in Wales.

Notreat · 23/04/2024 14:29

I would pronounce Roan as Rone. I don't think you can pronounce it Rowan without the W.

theduchessofspork · 23/04/2024 14:24

Roan I would say to rhyme with bone.

A younique spelling is not fair on her, it’s a lovely name but find something else if your husband is going to be this ridiculous

CurlewKate · 23/04/2024 10:53

Roan is a dictionary word pronounced rone.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 23/04/2024 10:32

Rowan is gorgeous and definitely not just for boys. There was a book I loved as a child with the heroine Rowan. Wish I could remember what the book was called. But anyway, what about Robyn instead?

BodyKeepingScore · 23/04/2024 10:25

I would read Roan as rhyming with loan. I'd keep the w. Rowan is a beautiful name.

HahaBooHiss · 23/04/2024 10:21

Dunno how to reply but to the poster who said Rowans a boys name, if I used to live where I’m from (north England) I would have thought the same but I live in Scotland now and know female Rowans from old ladies to my age to newborns. I’ve met two boy Rowans here and their parents get ‘isn’t Rowan a girls name??’ So it’s safe to say it’s pretty unisex!

bridgetreilly · 23/04/2024 09:31

I once taught a girl called Roanna. So I guess you could go for Roanne.

SiobhanSharpe · 23/04/2024 09:30

PineappleTime · 23/04/2024 07:45

Rowan is unisex

Show quote history

So called unisex names invariably become female or girls' names over time, because sexism.
see Hilary, Evelyn, Beverley etc.
Very few people give their baby boys a girl's name. I see Rowan going the same way.

user1492757084 · 23/04/2024 09:23

Rowena and Rhianna are nice names that are similar..

Rowan is obvious in spelling. I would not confuse it by making up a new spelling.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 23/04/2024 09:05

You could, I suppose, have Roanne to rhyme with Joanne but as the stress is on a different syllable it will sound quite different to Rowan. I would stick with Rowan, personally - lovely name.

PineappleTime · 23/04/2024 07:45

Beachs · 23/04/2024 07:44

Whilst I like the name, isn’t Rowan a boys name? How about Rhian or Rowena

Rowan is unisex

Beachs · 23/04/2024 07:44

Whilst I like the name, isn’t Rowan a boys name? How about Rhian or Rowena

Original poster
Wishingtobemum94 · 22/04/2024 22:28

Thank you everyone for your replies 🤣 my name is a complicated Irish spelling so I guess I should of known better, Rowan is looking more likely but don't think il know for sure til i see her 🤗

OP posts:
RuthW · 22/04/2024 17:16

I would pronounce it roan like moan

Firsttimebabymummy · 22/04/2024 16:37

WaitingfortheTardis · 22/04/2024 05:00

Roan to me would rhyme with Rome and bone. I think if you go for Rowan, which is a lovely name, you do need the w. I'm sure dh will come round to the w when he realizes it will make things easier for your daughter.

I agree with this. Roan is a colour of animal hair.

SuperLois34 · 22/04/2024 07:28

Rohan is a boy's name in some cultures so I wouldn't pick it for a girl personally

No, neither would I tbh. BUT if the choice was between Rohan or Roan (and then constantly telling people they must pronounce Roan incorrectly) I'd definitely go with Rohan as the lesser of two evils!

PineappleTime · 22/04/2024 07:18

SuperLois34 · 22/04/2024 07:09

If Rowan is off the table you could try Rohan - although you'll get a mix of it being pronounced Ro-an and Ro-han. Or Roanne, but the emphasis would be on the 'anne'.

Both sound far nearer Rowan than Roan though.

Rohan is a boy's name in some cultures so I wouldn't pick it for a girl personally.

SuperLois34 · 22/04/2024 07:09

If Rowan is off the table you could try Rohan - although you'll get a mix of it being pronounced Ro-an and Ro-han. Or Roanne, but the emphasis would be on the 'anne'.

Both sound far nearer Rowan than Roan though.

FluffMagnet · 22/04/2024 06:29

I also immediately spring to roan being a horse colour. It rhymes with moan. Rowen, like the tree, is pronounced closer to to desired sound. I work with a male Rowen and have never seen anyone struggle with his name (huge organisation).

letsgoskiing · 22/04/2024 06:23

Find a name you can agree on rather than spelling one wrong!

BigBananaSplit · 22/04/2024 06:22

Is it a Ro-Ann pronounciation you are looking for? Maybe it’s just my accent (Scottish) but I pronounce the W in Rowan so it wouldn’t be spelled without. I would pronounce Rowan - Row (like an argument)-in. Agreed as PP above that Roan would rhyme with bone.

shockthemonkey · 22/04/2024 06:14

Like pp, my first thought is that roan is a colour of a horse’s coat. Guinea pigs too it seems. It’s not actually my favourite colour, I prefer dun but you don’t want to call her that. Incidentally, dun, in French, is Isabelle, which is a girls name. But I’m missing the point… sorry

Roan will be pronounced to rhyme with bone.

Moreteaandchocolate · 22/04/2024 06:06

Another vote for the Rowan spelling. Roan rhymes with moan

SuperLois34 · 22/04/2024 05:36

Roan is an actual word that already exists op - and it's pronunciation is to rhyme with bone. It is not pronounced 'Ro-an'.

If you want baby to be called Rowan, call them Rowan. If you want them to be called Roan, call them Roan. Just don't call them Roan and then be upset when everyone around you pronounces Roan correctly!