Rowan or Rohan????

[RoseGarden123]

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?

[GrimmaTheNome]

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.

[RoseGarden123]

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!!

[RoseGarden123]

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!!

[JoanHarris]

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.

[GlaikitFizzog]

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 )

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.

[HappyHugs]

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.

[PurpleStorm]

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

[DollySisterDoesntLikeHerDiet]

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.

[MaMattoo]

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.