Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Rowena and Rowenna - is there any difference?

27 replies

HeyDolly · 30/04/2018 20:30

I pronounce them both Row-eeh-na, and prefer the Rowena spelling. Am just wondering if there is any difference between the two? Or is it just a case of Sara/Sarah, Claire/Clare?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 30/04/2018 20:31

The first of pronounce row-ee-nah and the second row-en-nah

NC4Now · 30/04/2018 20:32

I’d think Rowena - Row-EEna
And Rowenna - Row-ENNa

I prefer the first

Aprilmightbemynewname · 30/04/2018 20:33

N

pieceofpurplesky · 30/04/2018 20:35

Row EE na
Row EN a

Prefer Rowena but Morwenna is better than both

C0untDucku1a · 30/04/2018 20:35

Yes a double consonant shortens fhe vowel so go with your preferred spelling.

Row-en-na would be double n.

Marcipex · 30/04/2018 20:36

Yup, Rowenna rhymes with tenner.
Tis Cornish my dear.

Sophronia · 30/04/2018 20:37

If you like Row-een-ah then I’d spell it Rowena.

Original poster
HeyDolly · 30/04/2018 20:50

Thanks all- feel like I’m the only one that didn’t know this Grin.

I can’t make my mind up about Rowena. I swing between thinking it’s a pretty but strong name to thinking it’s a bit dowdy. Hormones are overriding rational thought at the moment Grin

OP posts:
llangennith · 30/04/2018 20:52

I like the name Rowena.

RoundaboutSnail · 30/04/2018 20:56

Rowena is a lovely name.

glitterbiscuits · 30/04/2018 21:05

This was my dream name for a girl. Couldn’t get it past DH

OlennasWimple · 30/04/2018 21:08

Rowena is lovely but so is Rowan

DramaAlpaca · 30/04/2018 21:08

I'm with everyone else, they are pronounced differently. Both lovely, but I prefer Rowenna.

redmini4 · 30/04/2018 21:10

I would agree with the others in the pronounciation of the names. Rowena is lovely and not heard of very much.

PurpleCrowbar · 30/04/2018 21:13

I'd go with Rowan tbh (Antonia Forest fan Wink).

Lovely strong name & doesn't need prettying up!

Of your alternatives I'd go with Rowena I think.

Original poster
HeyDolly · 30/04/2018 21:19

I have an ex boyfriend from many many years ago called Rowan so that name is out of the question.

Please tell me that the name Rowena isn’t that similar to Rowan that he might think I named DD as a nod to him if he ever found out?! ShockGrin

OP posts:
AnyaMoondial · 30/04/2018 22:00

I don't think of Rowena as being related to Rowan at all. I think Rowena is gorgeous.

WinnieThePooh6 · 30/04/2018 22:28

I'm not keen on Rowena OP. I much prefer Ramona.

Marcipex · 01/05/2018 00:08

I prefer Rowan too. But I prefer Rowenna to Rowena, which I think can be a bit whiny.

blairsey · 01/05/2018 01:24

I have always pronounced both as ro-wen-a. Maybe that"s just me though Grin Hmm

I do think Rowan is quite similar to Rowena, I'd actually be inclined to using Rowan as a nn for Rowena. But, if you really love the name I wouldn't let that stop you from using it.

DramaAtTheTurkeyCafe · 04/05/2018 08:27

Rowena is a lovely traditional name. Rowenna looks to me like a modern variant spelling and I'd be inclined to pronounce it with a short e, as others have said.

llangennith · 04/05/2018 16:56

Rowan is a boys name and nothing like Rowena.

RoundaboutSnail · 04/05/2018 17:26

I've only met one female Rowan, but it is a girl's name too.

Marcipex · 06/05/2018 00:49

Rowan has been a girls name for a long time, and lately has been catching on for boys too. It's a flowering tree, the Mountain Ash.
I don't really know how anyone can say that it's nothing like Rowena.
It is clearly very like Rowena.

Mum2OneTeen · 06/05/2018 01:54

Roe-een-ah (Rowena)
Roe- Enn-ah (Rowenna)