Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Just collecting: Rowan for a daughter?

32 replies

NC4thread · 14/11/2024 13:36

As title says really. I picked the name Aoibheann (Irish, pronounced either Ee-van or Ee-veen) months ago, but struggle to find any other Irish girl names that I A) like and B) haven’t already been used by my rather large family!! However, I saw Rowan listed as a baby girl name of Irish (and Scottish) origin and kinda fell in love with it. Everyone in my immediate family loves it too.

Now look, I am all for waiting until baby is born to officially chose baby’s name but I like having lists & collecting “data” ahead of time. And I don’t plan on getting pregnant for the next few years anyway (currently single as well!!) so it’s a while away, but just curious to see people’s thoughts really.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
EvilsElsasPetSnowman · 17/11/2024 05:00

My cousin’s DD is Rowan. It’s gorgeous and she really suits it, and unique without being “unique because it’s made up”.

user1492757084 · 17/11/2024 04:56

I only know male Rowans.
It's very handsome.

I've always loved Rowena for a girl.

Do you like Kathleen, Roisin, Saoirse or Aileen..

SeatbeltExtender · 16/11/2024 21:51

I only know males Rowans.

Loveshine · 16/11/2024 21:14

My DD is called Rowan - it suits her so well. I've not met any other girl Rowans in the three years she's been born, just quite a few boy Rowans as it's getting quite popular for boys.

NC4thread · 16/11/2024 21:10

comfyshoes2022 · 16/11/2024 21:07

I thought it was a boy’s name.

It’s unisex

OP posts:
comfyshoes2022 · 16/11/2024 21:07

I thought it was a boy’s name.

Mimi324 · 16/11/2024 21:01

It’s my little boys name, we met an Irish baby girl Rowan but all the other Rowan’s we’ve met have been boys (north England). I think it’s a lovely name for both! My little
boy is very much a stereotypical boy but I agree and like that it’s a softer sounding name. I also don’t think it has the same vibe as Roman and nobody has ever called him that and I’m not a Mr Bean fan (which was the one thing that almost put me off when choosing) but don’t think of/associate it with him!

YourDenimUser · 14/11/2024 20:41

I do prefer the name for a girl than a boy but beware it's trendy and very similar sounding to very popular trendy name Roman with M

WinterCarlisle · 14/11/2024 14:48

LOVE Rowan for a girl or a boy. It was on my list but DH wasn’t keen <glares>.

Also, I had completely 100% decided on DS1’s name about 5 years before I met DH I’m totally with you on the name organisation!

NC4thread · 14/11/2024 14:43

Scrimt · 14/11/2024 14:35

Lol at you being single and very much not pregnant but gettin' your baby names ready anyway! Organised queen. 😂

Rowan is okay. But not when the row part is pronounced as in row/argument. That sounds too harsh to my ears.

Edited

No, it would definitely be pronounced “Row” as in, row of seats, row your boat, etc.

And yep, organized to a T!

Brooklyn Nine Nine GIF by PeacockTV
OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/11/2024 14:39

NC4thread · 14/11/2024 14:29

Also interesting to see how some only know male Rowans when (aside from Rowan Atkinson) any Rowan I’ve ever heard of has been female. Suppose it’s similar to the likes of Aubrey - which many would call a girl name and many would call a boy name.

Aubrey is an old name that was always a boy's name (from a surname, I think) until very recently indeed. It fell out of favour as a boy's name and then Audrey had a bit of a revival and I suppose some people thought Aubrey was a nice alternative to Audrey. I doubt it's used at all for boys now. This tends to be the way when a name is far more used for girls than boys.

Scrimt · 14/11/2024 14:35

Lol at you being single and very much not pregnant but gettin' your baby names ready anyway! Organised queen. 😂

Rowan is okay. But not when the row part is pronounced as in row/argument. That sounds too harsh to my ears.

NC4thread · 14/11/2024 14:31

Waitingfordoggo · 14/11/2024 13:38

I love the name- for a boy or a girl. I knew it first as a girl’s name though so I tend to lean towards using it for a girl rather than a boy.

I also only knew it as a girl’s name so associate it with that. I think, if I were to choose similar for a boy, it would have to be Ronan or Rohan. Those strike me as more traditionally masculine. Rowan seems softer in comparison

OP posts:
NC4thread · 14/11/2024 14:29

Also interesting to see how some only know male Rowans when (aside from Rowan Atkinson) any Rowan I’ve ever heard of has been female. Suppose it’s similar to the likes of Aubrey - which many would call a girl name and many would call a boy name.

OP posts:
NC4thread · 14/11/2024 14:27

Meowingtwice · 14/11/2024 13:57

It just reminds me of Mr bean - rowan Atkinson. Maybe that's mostly an older person thing.

In terms of something not too flowery I like Erin, Niamh, Eilís, Keavy and Aurnia.

I thought of him too but with my sense of humor, it’s actually a positive 🙈 There’s more unfortunate names a child could have with more unfortunate associations, so Mr Bean isn’t enough to ruin it for me 🤣

OP posts:
Nikitaspearlearring · 14/11/2024 14:18

I've loved the name ever since I read a book as a child with the main character a girl called Rowan. It's a strong and beautiful name.

MissRoseDurward · 14/11/2024 14:16

Great name, reminds me of the marvellous (fictional) Rowan Marlow.

Yes my first thought was Rowan Marlow, who is a girl. I knew her before I encountered any male Rowans.

DreamingDaisies · 14/11/2024 14:08

DS has "Girl Rowan" and "Boy Rowan" in his class at school (early primary). It's a nice name.

@Pelagi I'm with you on Rowan Marlow!

CookieMonster28 · 14/11/2024 14:05

Quite a masculine name IMO
I would assume a boy

Pelagi · 14/11/2024 14:03

Great name, reminds me of the marvellous (fictional) Rowan Marlow.

Santasbigredbobblehat · 14/11/2024 14:00

All the Rowans I know are male.

Meowingtwice · 14/11/2024 13:57

It just reminds me of Mr bean - rowan Atkinson. Maybe that's mostly an older person thing.

In terms of something not too flowery I like Erin, Niamh, Eilís, Keavy and Aurnia.

OneDandyPoet · 14/11/2024 13:57

Beautiful name for a girl

FlingThatCarrot · 14/11/2024 13:53

I like it for a boy. But that might be because all the Rowans I know are men/ boys.

You do have to be aware it's a name that changes a lot with accents. Most say say Row-an but some do say Roan which I would find jarring.

MerryMarys · 14/11/2024 13:52

I only know women/girls called Rowan.

Lovely name

Swipe left for the next trending thread