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Baby names

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

Thoughts on Rowan

36 replies

Nbaby · 17/07/2024 23:30

Love the name Rowan for baby boy and how it’s pronounced, although is it Irish or very English.
I know google says Irish roots etc but does anyone know a rowan that is Irish or any similar names?

also liking Ronan, Ruadhán

OP posts:
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Awrite · 18/07/2024 10:17

I've known two Rowans. Both female (now in their 40's).

I like it.

GreenMarigold · 18/07/2024 10:17

Rowan is one of my favourite names for boys. I wouldn’t have said it was Irish though.

FayCarew · 18/07/2024 10:15

@Moier , that site looks like a dodgy one. Rayan is Arabic not Irish, and that's just one name.

JellyComb · 18/07/2024 09:45

It was on the list for my son. And in fact my cousin then used it for her son. Its a gorgeous name, can be used for both males and females. And not very well used but not wacky either.

Barleysugar86 · 18/07/2024 09:30

I have only known a girl Rowan- is it usually for boys?

Nap1983 · 18/07/2024 09:24

pretty sure its not Irish. But its a lovely name, i really like it! For either boy or girl.

TwirlBar · 18/07/2024 09:21

Not sure the name Rowan is Irish at all?

Wikipedia says it's possibly North Germanic or Scandinavian but then Wikipedia isn't a terribly reliable source.

As pp said it sounds quite close to the Irish Ruadhán (pronounced Roo-awn) so maybe there's been some crossover (mix-up?) there.

The Irish for a rowan tree is caorthann.

Moreteaandchocolate · 18/07/2024 08:53

I really like Rowan! I don’t associate it with being Irish that much as it’s used so widely.

TwirlBar · 18/07/2024 08:50

That doesn't seem to be a very reliable site @Moier. Lots of them aren't. There isn't a fada in sight for a start and that's never a good sign. I'd double-check anything picked from there.

loropianalover · 17/07/2024 23:47

Ruadhán would be the Irish language version of Rowan, meaning little red-head. I’d see Ruadhán as a boys name, but Rowan quite common for either boy or girl.

I love Ruaidhrí, or Rían.