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Rowan or Rohan????

34 replies

RoseGarden123 · 08/02/2013 10:13

Our baby boy is due soon as we like the name Rowan/rohan with the Irish pronounciation of Ro - w(h)an. Where the w or h are almost silent.
On research it appears that both are old fashion versions of the gaelic version of the name but Rohan is more the spelling of the boys version. However I believe in Indian cultures that Rohan is used as a boys name with the pronounciation Row-Han - with emphasis on the H.
which do you think is best? And how would you pronounce each if you saw them written?

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MaMattoo · 12/02/2013 01:48

I have a Rohan, a big fan of LoTR hence the name. Nursery folks call him rowan, ro'an and whatever they want.
Being 2 he is really No-Han as he says no to everything we ask him to do.
He calls himself au-Han as be cant say rrrr yet :-)

If mis-pronunciation will bother you, which it might, then pick a name with little confusion!! I love the H version.

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DollySisterDoesntLikeHerDiet · 12/02/2013 01:23

If I see Rowan written down my first thought is: is that a boy or a girl?

If I see Rohan I assume boy.

I'd go with Rohan.

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PurpleStorm · 11/02/2013 22:13

I prefer Rowan.

Mostly because the only place I've come across Rohan in real life is when shopping for walking clothes at the Rohan shop

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HappyHugs · 11/02/2013 21:34

Just to clarify, Ro-han is pronounced differently to Ro-nan (and it is only the latter that is Irish) the 'n' is not silent....think Ronan Keating.

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GlaikitFizzog · 11/02/2013 09:11

I think Rowan/rohan isn't a particularly masculine name anyway. Not that there is anything wrong with that, DS has a name that is growing in popularity with Girls (thanks gossip girl Hmm)

I would personally go with rowan like the tree, because I think it looks aesthetically nicer. But at the end of the day a name is a sound.

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JoanHarris · 11/02/2013 09:10

Sorry - wasn't clear, I meant that I'd never heard of this name as Irish. Rowan is an English name so was confused when I saw that there was an Irish pronunciation.

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RoseGarden123 · 11/02/2013 08:53

Thanks dh definitely prefers rohan, I'm undecided but do like the masculinity of rohan. Roan is out for us as we are quite a horsey family and I don't think I'd ever pronounce it right!!

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RoseGarden123 · 11/02/2013 08:53

Thanks dh definitely prefers rohan, I'm undecided but do like the masculinity of rohan. Roan is out for us as we are quite a horsey family and I don't think I'd ever pronounce it right!!

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GrimmaTheNome · 11/02/2013 08:26

I'd pronounce either spelling as Ro-an. I would avoid 'Roan' as that might get pronounced like the horse colour as one syllable to rhyme with 'loan'.

Rohan looks a bit more macho; Rowan is neutral - I can't actually think of any female Rowans but there's two high profile males.

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sashh · 11/02/2013 08:09

I also think Rowan= girl and Rohan=boy and I pronounce them both the same.


If you have a girl in future, don't call her Willow, unless yu want people to make assumptions about you.

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FooffyShmoo · 11/02/2013 00:46

My DS is Rohan (pronounced Ro-an silent H). We researched it before making our final decision. It is Irish. An anglicised version of the gaelic Ruadhaun.
We have had very few people pronounce it Ro-Han. People instinctively seemed to get how to say it. Its helpful however that DS is not backward in coming forward in politely but firmly correcting them Smile

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CointreauVersial · 11/02/2013 00:31

Rohan is much nicer. I have a friend with this spelling, pronounced Ro-an.

The Rowan spelling seems a bit feminine to me.

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lopsided · 11/02/2013 00:28

Rohan can be pronounced with a silent H. I think there was a famous West indian cricketer with the name. I think it's lovely. I think of Rowan as the feminine form though obviously I know of loads of blokes with the name.

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PickledInAPearTree · 11/02/2013 00:14

Yes agree about the w.

The way you want it pronounced if go for roan.

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TiggerWearsATriteSmile · 11/02/2013 00:06

Roan is the name you're looking for I think. If its the Irish version your looking for

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MidnightMasquerader · 11/02/2013 00:06

Rowan for me, lovely name.

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toomuch2young · 11/02/2013 00:01

Yes i agree Roan is the Irish spelling of the name you are looking at if you wish to pronounce it that way.
Otherwise Rowan is lovely, but people will tend to pronounce it with the W.

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PickledInAPearTree · 10/02/2013 23:58

I would go for Rowan as I wouldnt like the LOTRsyness of Rohan.

I like Rowan.

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HappyHugs · 10/02/2013 23:06

There is no 'w' in Irish. The only comparable irish name is Ronan. Neither of the other versions is irish but both are equally nice imho.

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mawi · 09/02/2013 02:03

What about using Roan?

Roan meaning and name origin
roan\ as a boy's name is a variant of Rowan (Gaelic), and the meaning of Roan is "little red-head
Read more at www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Roan#s0jAkj7EUh4Vtzdq.99

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farmersdaugther · 08/02/2013 21:46

My BIL is Rohan

My friend (girl) is Rowan

Helpful?

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MoonHare · 08/02/2013 21:21

I think of Rowan as more of a girls name too, think that's because of the film The Wicker Man. I was at school with a Rohan who pronounced it Row-an, no one seemed to have a problem with it.

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IncognitoIsMyFavouriteWord · 08/02/2013 20:55

I like both but I do know a girl called Rowan spelt like that and the W is pronounced Smile

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Leeds2 · 08/02/2013 20:53

I think of Rowan as a girl's name, tbh (despite Rowan Atkinson!). Whereas I see Rohan as definitely for boys.

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BeanstalkandBump · 08/02/2013 16:43

Joan you've never heard of Rowan Atkinson? Or the recently ex Arch Bishop of Canterbury Rowan?
It's in the top two on our boys' list and I'd go for Rowan.

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