Boys names - Fionn, Rowen, Jack?

[Leahd89]

I'm having a boy, due in September and we can't agree on names. Our first DS is called Oisín, an Irish name ranked at about number 15 where I'm from but probably not popular elsewhere.

All other names I just feel a bit meh about, before I became pregnant we agreed on Rowen if we had another boy, which happened to be the name of DHs close friend (I know it's usually spelt Rowan) not I'm not too sure.

MIL likes Fionn/Finn and doesn't like Rowen, DH likes Finn, Rowen and Jack in no particular order. BIL is called Jack so I'm not keen

I think adding up all the Fionn, Finns, Finlays, Fintans etc it's actually the most popular name there is

Any other suggestions?!

I think Rowan and Roman are very different in feel and different enough in sound. Lots of names sound similar: Molly, Holly, Polly, Ollie, etc. Anna, Hannah, Emma, etc. I don’t see it as an issue.

I have Roan, Fynn and Gabriel..

@Zagazooo thank you for saying Rowan and Roman have a different feel. I also think they do but sadly others don’t, and I do understand that. No one is trying to deliberately upset me. I think the reason people get my daughter’s name (RoWan) so mixed up with RoMan is because the names start off with exactly the same sound. Yes your examples of Holly and Polly and Molly all also only have one letter different but with those names it’s the initial letter that’s different, so people seem to distinguish between them much more easily 😞 the “W” in Rowan seems to be too soft somehow? Even at hospital I got people mishearing and saying “Roman”! Not the end of the world though of course! And I bet it doesn’t bother some people anyway. It does bother me, I should have done more research and realised how popular Roman is. I didn’t want a trendy name believe it or not!

@PlantPotting I wouldn’t call Rowan trendy, if that makes you feel any better. Even if it’s increasing in popularity at the moment, I can think of several Rowans who are adults: Rowan Williams, Rowan Atkinson, etc. Not like Nevaeh or something that’s literally come from nowhere overnight. It sounds like it bothers you a lot (I’ve noticed your name on a few other name threads too) I do hope you can make your peace with it.

Yes I see Roman as a trendy name and Rowan more of a nature/earthy name with an Irish/Scottish feel. DS1 is Oisín and evening in Ireland some people have never heard it and don't know how to pronounce it but it didn't put me off, I just thought well they can learn it and I'm definitely glad I went with it

*even

I think rowan is lovely and sounds like a Nature/Gaelic name rather than a trendy name to me.

@Peacefrog23
Thanks lovelies. Really kind.
Statistics don’t lie sadly and the graphs definitely show it’s the epitome of trendy unfortunately .... this is the US graph but UK graphs show the same thing. Roman has a similar pattern, has also come from nowhere having never in history been in the top 100 before.

Here’s the graph for Roman. Interestingly enough it demonstrates the name Roman is actually less trendy than Roman as it’s been widely used for a bit longer. Both names have suddenly boomed though in last 2 years. Epitome of trendy. I imagine trendy names like “Hunter” will have similar graphs

• edit: the name Roman is actually less trendy than ROWAN! For goodness sake it’s my own daughters name and I am still getting the names muddled up!!

From your choices i still like rowan best @leahd89 (regardless of popularity!) x

Some other suggestions,

Flynn
Conor
Shay
Kieran
Kier

Not another Rowan Rohan Rowen Roman Roan! It definitely IS a trendy name. Yawn. Sorry.

@PlantPotting That’s not the case. Here are the stats for England and Wales.

Rowan has risen just under 100 spots over the past 22 years, from 188th for boys in 1996 to 89th for boys in 2018. That’s not a big jump at all over more than two decades.

For girls, Rowan has actually fallen across the sand time period from 417th to 455th.

Roman has risen from 605th to 62nd for boys over the same time period — well over 500 places.

I understand that you’re anxious that your child’s name is becoming popular, but it’s a great name with a long history of regular use. A great choice no matter how many others you meet.

Roman chart for reference.

So I’m England and Wales Rowan is now jumping 14 places a year (2017 it was no. 103 and 2018 it was no. 89), so is starting to leap. First time in history it’s ever been top
100. Plus there’s all the variants that aren’t even included in the total (Roan, Rohan etc).
Roman will almost certainly be top 30 by the time 2020 stars are released on current trajectory. Likely to be top 20 soon. It’s jumped 500 places in last 20(ish) years.
I can’t understand how anyone would say these names aren’t trendy. Looking at the graphs and stats that’s exactly what they are. But we’re going round in circles, let’s just agree to disagree. I find them trendy and ten a penny. But that’s just me x

I know a Roman in his 30s, I don't think it's a new name, although it certainly is increasing in popularity. I also know a couple of Ronans, both Irish.

Never met a Rowan, male or female. I know a Rohan, from India and I've known two people called Rowena.

OP - I'd be delving into Irish history/folklore to find another name as fabulous as Oisín.

I do love Irish names and definitely don't regret picking Oisín, I was surprised when booking appointments etc that everyone has known how to pronounce it. I will have another look and see what other Irish names I like

Oisín is gorgeous. It's good to keep Celtic names alive

This thread is making me lean towards Osian (the Welsh version) for a DS, rather than Tomos which was beating Osian slightly.

Oisín is stunning @CaffiSaliMali although I do like Tomos too but prefer Osian

Jack is nice and Fionn is ok. Rowen/Roman/Rowan/Rohan/Roan I don’t really like that subset of names and think of Rowan as the girls version of Roman. (Row-ANNE vs Ro-MAN)
I bet there’s loads of lovely (and less trendy) Irish names to pick from, I’m sure you’ll find one you love as much as Oisin for sure! I’ll get my thinking cap on for you too.

Finian
Phineas
Can have Fin / Phin for nn.