Rowan or Sonny?

[Peacefrog23]

Hi,

So pretty sure baby is going to be one of these. I love them both, and really cant decide.

Just wondering which you prefer?
And how many children do you know with these names?

Hopefully may help me to choose. If you don't like either just say which you prefer please!

Thanks so much for the help xx

I’m not keen on Rowan for a boy, but it’s miles better than Sonny. I only know female Rowans - two of them.

The only Rowan I know is a girl. Sorry, but Sonny is more of a nickname surely? Can you imagine a judge named Sonny?

Rowan is the best. Sonny is just awful on anyone over 5.

I know one female Rowan and a male Sonny.

I am not keen on the name Sonny.

Out of those two, Rowan. To me, Sonny is a nickname for a little boy. It would feel odd to me to address a grown man I wasn't related to as 'Sonny'.

I quite like Sonny.
I know both male and female Rowans but I think it works better on the girls.

I love the name Sonny!

I know one Sonny and no Rowans.

I prefer Rowan - nice name.

Rowan is gorgeous for a boy

Rowan is much nicer I can't imagine a middle aged or old Sonny. Rowan will grow with him. Sonny sounds a bit twee

Sorry, I think I was a bit harsh. There was an Archbishop of Canterbury called Rowan and all that really matters is the person, not the name. I don’t like the name given to one of my grand daughters, but I adore her. And my mother didn’t approve of either of the names I chose for my children. So, it’s best not to ask anyone’s advice but go with your own instincts. When the baby is born, cuddle him and look at him and decide which of your chosen names fits him best. Above all, enjoy him.

And for what it is worth traditionally I think of Rowan as a boys name not a girls. I know a couodk of adult male Rowans

A vote for Sonny. Love that name and think it works great on both a little boy and a baby

Sonny is more distinctive to my ears too. Roman (with an M) was the fastest rising boys name last year.

If you look at the official ONS UK data, over 2,000 babies were called Roman/Rowan/Rohan/Roan in 2018 (and its booming so there’ll be even more 2019 and 2020)

I remember you saying you’re trying to avoid a top 30 name, so I’d probably avoid Roman/Rowan as Roman will almost certainly be top 20 on current trajectory

There’s 2 Roman’s (with M) in my NCT group of 8 babies!! Not surprised to hear that it’s the fastest rising name. I have a Ronan (with an N) next door too 🤣 Inundated!

Calling someone Sonny sounds as if you’re talking patronisingly to a small boy.

Are they your absolute final two?

Don’t like either, I’m afraid, but especially not Sonny,

I also agree with mdh2020/whatever name you chose some people will say they don't like it. This is the reason many people don't announce the name until the baby is born. Your baby so your choice.

I love the name Sonny! Think I said, It’s my best friends’ favourite name. She was desperate to call her son by this name but her husband said “no” at the time and she’s still a bit gutted she didn’t get to use. Especially as her husband has since changed his mind and says he now loves the name (but they aren’t having any more children )

.....Men eh?! 😆🤦‍♀️

I don't like Sonny but that's partly because, as a teacher, I have taught two who were both "spirited"!

I love Rowan for a boy or girl. I know a girl called Rowan but for a boy, I know of Rowan Williams who was the Archbishop of Canterbury and there's a folk fiddler/singer called Rowan Piggott.

LOVE the name Sonny!! great choice

I know a 15yo Sonny and he’s the coolest dude. I love his name, it really suits him!

I would prefer Rowan as a girls names and think the boom in the popularity of Roman (with M) does really put me off. Plus there’s so many of these trendy names. Rohan, Roan, RoNan. Puts my head in a jumble.

I know it’s bad but I try to avoid unisex names on boys as they get teased if they have the same name as a girl (sexist I know!). For example Rowan is a top 100 name for girls in Scotland (rising rapidly) but doesn’t feature in the Scotland top 100 boys lists. That type of thing would worry me but might not bother you.

When there’s so many lovely names, I’d personally pick a name that can stand on its own without all the hassle and mix up - pick Sonny.
Done ✅

Sonny is a really nice name and that New Zealand rugby play Sonny Williams is so hot!! It definitely works well into adulthood 🥰

I have a little girl called Rowan. I do still like the name but I also do wish I’d checked mumsnet first for advice before naming her, because I hadn’t anticipated how many (well meaning) people would automatically shorten the name to “Row” (which I don’t like) ... plus I had no idea that Roman (with an M) was the fastest rising boys name in 2018. There’s 2 Roman’s at our small local nursery and I get a bit fed up of having to say “I’m phoning to ask about Rowan ....the one with a W” as the three of them get so muddled up.😩😆

Plus I had it at the hospital recently too, hospital staff assuming baby’s name was RoMan (presumably as there’s been so many being born there recently). Again I have to start saying “no Rowan with a W”. Drives me mad but you might not care.

Anyway it’s not the end of the world, my daughter has two middle names to fall back on if she chooses 🙈 I will come to Mumsnet for advice next time definitely so I can make a more considered choice but because of Roman Kemp on I’m a celeb and also prankster “Roman Atwood” having 5 million Instagram followers, I can’t see any sign of the names popularity slowing down unfortunately.

One female Rowan, one male Rowan, lovely name and nearly used it on one of my (male) children. Also like Reuben a lot. Know one male Sonny but don't like the name much, as others have said sounds like something somebody would say when telling a child off "come here sonny" "don't be so cheeky sonny" it doesn't sound like their name just a generic boy word IYSWIM.

A lot of rising names in the top 50 will be the next round of top 20 names. I know people say that you'll end up with loads of them but my children have fairly popular names and they know 1 or 2 others with the name but not in the same class and everybody knows how to spell their names and pronounce them which I think makes life easier. I have an unusual name and still met quite a few people with the Same name as me, so there's no guarantees!

I haven’t met anyone called Sonny yet although I know of one via Friend of a friend. I know about 3 or 4 Rowan’s (2 girls 2 boys) and know of many Roman’s.
That’s just me though. In UK there were 640 babies named Sonny in 2018 and over 2,000 called Rowan/Rohan/Roman/Roan etc.

Much prefer Rowan. Sonny sounds like a childish nickname, like laddie.

I don't know any Rowans, male or female, or any Sonnys.

My college teacher was called Rowan and my second cousin is called Sonny (but I think that may be a nickname).

I don't totally love either name if I'm honest, but I think Rowan is better than Sonny.

Oh, forgot to mention. My college teacher was a man!