Rowan

[curiousgeorgie]

Is this a boys name or a girls name?

To be brutally honest, Rowan is the name of a tree. The name is Old Norse; the same word has been borrowed by Gaelic. Both suggest 'red', as in Rowan berries

However, Rowan also is similar to another Irish male name:
www.behindthename.com/name/rowan

For girls, the name Rowena has different origins; www.behindthename.com/name/rowena

However, so much confusion currently exists that I really don't think that anyone would worry. So:

Rowan for a boy
Rowan/Rowena for a girl.

Thanks

I'm not considering it for my child, I'm just using mumsnet knowledge to help me... My DD has had quite a unisex party invite from someone I don't know at nursery and I was unsure if to buy for a boy or a girl...

Buy a gender neutral present. Bug hunting kit? Jigsaw?

Yeah, I will.

I just wanted to use something out of my present box and its only rapunzel dolls or hot wheels

I think it's more suitable for a boy. If we had had a boy it would have been Rowan, I think it's lovely but we had a girl.

The only Rowan I've ever met in real life is a girl.

I think gender neutral gift is the way forward.

Would your dd be able to tell you if Rowan is a girl or boy or is she too little?

She's 3, I said 'do you know Rowan?'

She said 'I only know Olivia'

could you ask the nursery teacher? or if the pegs in the cloakroom have names and pictures above them you could have a quick look for Rowans picture.

my niece is called Rowan and I also know of a grown-up male Rowan

Ha! Bless her

Could ask one of the mums you do know or the teacher?

Good idea, i'll hang back and ask the teacher tomorrow, just in case Rowans mum hears me!

The 2013 baby name lists from the ONS shows that Rowan is used quite a bit more for boys than girls (I can't remember the actual figures).

My DD is Rowan, she had a party and got a Spiderman T shirt as a present. The mum was embarrassed as she'd thought it was a boy's party but DD loved it!

It's a girl's name. As all the Kingscote aficionados know. Just like Lawrie.

lol at your daughter, cute :)

I know 3 Rowans - all boys

spelt:
Rowan
Roan
Rohan

Not much help to you I know

I know girl and boy Rowan's. I'd get a unisex present too.

Rowan is the name of the little girl who goes missing in The Wicker Man.

I only know boys called Rowan but very hard to tell these days!!

The old Archbishop of Canterbury is definitely a boy.

The ones I know are girls. Different pronunciation for girl's Rowan and boys Rowan where I live.

I only know a boy rowan, spelt Roan. I love the name and would be naming my baby Roan but dp is too fussy and said no. Clearly I'm still bitter about it...

What are the different pronunciations?

I know one boy and eight girls called Rowan.

It's both. Sorry.

My friend's DNephew is a Rowan and she is constantly defending the name ("Rowan Atkinson is a man!") but I know three female Rowans and would always say it's a girl name.

Also, the English person I know pronounces her name "roh-wen" but I'm Scottish and it's pronounced "row-en", as in to row/argue with someone. Hmm.