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Original poster

Rowan

36 replies

denisej · 20/03/2010 14:55

Just wondering which gender everyone thinks Rowan belongs to? My DH and I love the name but I would consider it a boy's name and he would think of it as a girl's name. He's all for picking the name for whatever we have! I currently have a DD and DS both with Irish names so any original ones of Irish origin (or names that have a similarity to Rowan) of either sex, that I may not have seen on here before, would also be most appreciated.
Thanks

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redflagsahoy · 04/06/2011 16:01

I love Rowan for a boy or girl, its beautiful, I love all nature names I also love Willow. Good luck with your little baby :)

chillistars · 04/06/2011 12:10

I have to compliment you on your excellent choice of name for your son!

chillistars · 04/06/2011 12:08

If you want an Irish name then you need Roan not Rowan - Roan is an Irish name meaning person with red hair, whereas Rowan is English.

ScarlettCrossbones · 22/03/2010 15:44

I started a thread about the name a while back.

To me, if it's for a girl it's pronounced to rhyme with cow and now, and is a Scottish name; if it's for a boy it's pronounced to rhyme with crow and grow, and is an English name! No idea if that's right or wrong though - probably neither these days!

It's still near the top of my list if DC3 is a girl ...

busterk · 21/03/2010 22:50

I would use it for a boy and pronounce it Rowan sounding like cow.

5DollarShake · 21/03/2010 14:23

I really like the name - only learnt that it was also a girls' name recently (and probably from here!).

dawntigga · 21/03/2010 12:03

Yes indeed JoeyBettany I am - well, it's the closest label that I've got to my 'religion'.

ToldYouRebelInPaganCirclesTiggaxx

Adair · 21/03/2010 11:57

Boy. Though I know it's a girl's name too.

Have heard Ro-Anne for a girl actually.

Rohan is nice too.

I think Tigga was saying yes, it's a VERY popular name for Pagans - hence she'd avoid it...

My boy has a unisex/girl's name (Sky/Skyler)- I'm sure he'll be fine.

MrsvWoolf · 21/03/2010 11:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pointydog · 21/03/2010 09:33

lol - I was going to post something like that, jane. I cannot believe you had an opposite opinion on this.

I think Rowan is a very english boys' name though. Maybe that's it.

StarExpat · 21/03/2010 08:05

I adore Rowan. I wanted it for DS but we knew he would be a boy... we shared the name with friends one day and they said "oh what a beautiful name for a little girl!" (innocently) but my DH said no way from that point if people thought it was a girl's name I was upset at the time but love the name we 've used instead

JoeyBettany · 21/03/2010 08:04

Yes, dawntigga, there's a girl Rowan and a
Willow in 'The Wicker Man'

Are you really a pagan?

dawntigga · 21/03/2010 07:58

Rowan for the tree - alleged magical properties (can't abide spelling magic with a k etc. either) and Willow for the same reason (also witch in Buffy).

RebelEvenInPaganCirclesAndThat'sQuiteHardToDoTiggaxx

nighbynight · 21/03/2010 07:41

why are Rowan and Willow out for pagans, tigga?

JackBauer · 21/03/2010 07:41

In my (extremely ) close family there is a female Rowan and a male Rowan cousin. Both pronounced the same.
The pronunciation is a big issue TBH, lots of people assume that they are pronounced differently because fo the male/female thing but really it's a regional thing, either sex can have any pronunciation. But try telling people they are saying a name wrong. Very annoying.

Out fo curiouslty Tigga, we always thought it was a good thing as Rowan is the only wood a witch can't touch, so Rowan was 'safe' IYSWIM? Am not pagan though so happy to be corrected!

dawntigga · 21/03/2010 06:48

Erm, being Pagan I'd avoid it like the plague regardless of gender and - for the same reason - Willow. Too many fluffy bunnies called their children either name for me to do anything except shudder.

DonsHardHatAndWaitsTiggaxx

weegiemum · 21/03/2010 06:32

I think it gets pronounced differently for boys and girls though, doesn't it.

So for a girl it would be Row-ann, with the Row pronounced like how, now,

but for a boy it would be Row-ann with the Row pronounced like row row row your boat!

At least that's been it with any I have ever met.

Most of the Rowans I have met, though, are dogs.

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 21/03/2010 06:26

This reply has been deleted

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MrsvWoolf · 20/03/2010 23:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
denisej · 20/03/2010 21:28

Thanks to all for your opinions and good to hear on the whole that it works either way. I had thought about that change of spelling suggestion myself for a boy so maybe that's the way to go!

OP posts:
boogywoogy · 20/03/2010 21:04

Ds is called Rowan and so I obviuously love it!

I know of one other boy called Rowan and two girls. I think it is a truly unisex name but I prefer it for a boy.

janeiteisFedUp · 20/03/2010 20:52

Bah - and I usually agree with you Pointy. You disappoint me...

thirtysomething · 20/03/2010 20:51

have known boys and girls with that name. Isn't it one of those truly unisex names like Lesley, Frances/Francis etc?

DebiNewberry · 20/03/2010 20:47

girl

blogpage · 20/03/2010 20:41

I think it's a very unisex name.