Is ROAN an actual, real irish name?

[amhurst]

I'm Irish, living abroad, looking for a nice not too usual Irish boy name. I have come across ROAN on a few sites and think it is v nice but I have never met nor heard of a Roan in Ireland..is it a bit of a made up irish Christian name? And apologies in advance don't want to offend anybody who has picked this name - am genuinely curious. I also really like IARLAITH but think the spelling will always be a problem. Many thanks for any thoughts!

As far as i'm aware, Roan isn't an Irish name.

You can also spell your second name Iarla - like the singer Iarla Ó Lionáird

Thanks..I have my suspicions..re iarlaith/ iarla...as is the pitfall of talking about names at all, when I said 'iarla' spelt with a simple 'a' - someone replied 'as in Carla??' Ruining all images of iarla o'L and replacing them with Ideas of Carla from Cheers ..bah.

Rowan is a great boys (or girls) name. I know an Irish one but not sure about its heritage. Or Ronan.

Roan is afaik and Americanised version of an Irish name. It would be more common in the US than in Ireland with that spelling.

I think Roan's just the Garlic word for seal isn't it? Ronan is little seal btw!

Doesn't Roan mean bull or cow? Rhymes with Joan

I've seen "Rohan" both in ireland and Scotland.
Pronounced "Ro-an" and "Ro-Han"

I think 'rón' is seal, as in sea lion, not royal seal. I've never met anyone called Roan so can't be sure if it's an authentic name. Sounds a bit madey upy, but I could be wrong.

Rowan has the same sound and is more known.

Roan isn't a word in Irish - rón is the word for seal (the animal).

I've never heard of Roan as a name but I second seeing the name Rohan in Scotland. Maybe Roan is a derivation?

I know a Rohan, Rowan and a Rion but haven't heard for Roan

I'm in Ireland & I know an 8 year old Roan. No idea if it's an authentic Irish name or not.

I know a Scottish Roan. He's 6 and a lovely wee boy.

My cousin's youngest is Roan, pronounced Rowan. They're not Irish, not sure where it comes from, but it's really grown on me in the three years since he was born.

I think Iarla looks like a girl's name (sorry).

I have only ever heard the word roan in the context of the colour of a horse. But I am in NI so not much Irish being spoken.
I love Rowan and Ronan.

I'm in NI but never met a Roan

Do know a Rohan though

There was a Roan in my primary class. He was Scottish though,but I loved the name,and it suited him.

Not very helpful but just read a book where the lead character was called Roan and portrayed as an Irish name but its not one I'd heard of before.

trainersandaches pmsl at garlic word

We have a Roan in our family, they are English.

Never came across it. I know a Ruadhan which is pronounced like Ruan.

Thanks so much for thoughts! Finding it really difficult to find 'the' name..2 weeks to go! Poor nameless boy...also like RUAIRI but know the world wld prefer if I spelt it RORY...

Aye, but Ruairi/Ruaridh is pronounced Roo-ray, whereas Rory is Roar-ray.

I much prefer Roo-ray.

Fionn if he's blond.
Ruan if he's got red hair.

Ciaran if he's dark.