Baby Name help

[Butterfly20201]

Hi All,

We’re lucky enough to be expect a baby boy in a few weeks. We’re struggling to commit to a name, we both love the name Rowan but I’m a little scared that people think this is a girls name more than a boys. Can I get your opinions please? Do any of you know a boy Rowan at the moment?

Thanks in advance!

Congratulations on your pregnancy @Butterfly20201

My baby daughter is called Rowan so I'm biased 🤣. In reality it's definitely unisex and used more for boys in England but it's mainly used for girls in Scotland. I heard it's transitioning to become more of a girls name in America so that gave me the confidence to name my daughter it as it's racing up the girl charts there.
What I would say as a word of warning, is that whilst I still like her name, I hadn't realised well meaning people would automatically shorten it to "Row". I've asked my family not to but they do it by accident all the time so I'm prepared for the inevitable at school. You might like the shortening though.
The similarity to Roman, Rohan, Roan, Ronan... does upset me. Particularly RoMan as it's getting so popular now (all the Towie lot are choosing it), and there's 2 Roman's at my small local nursery. So my daughter is known as "Ro_an with a W" ☹️ Not quite what I had in mind but it's my own fault for not doing my research and looking at the name lists properly before picking a name.

I know a Rohan (male). Rowan Williams and Rowan Atkinson are both well known, and male. I also know an adult Roman and two Ronans.

Don't know any female Rowans, but I know two women called Rowena.

Although I know Rowan is a unisex name, I would think male on hearing the name before I though female, if that helps! It's a lovely name.

If you look at the name stats it is definitely more popular for a boy than girl. It is lovely on a boy. I know a little Rowan and he really suits his name.
I also know an adult female Rowan who has always hated having a 'boys' name. It is more common for girls now though than it would have been when she was young.

I like it OP.

I think of it as a boy's name.

I thought it was a girl name because the two I know are girls

It's ok but when there's so many lovely names to pick from I'd personally avoid one so similar to Roman in particular, but also Rohan, Roan, Ronan and so on. I work with children and it does make my head spin a bit. Very trendy

Definitely a boys name! I know several from the local school.

Love Rowan, would definitely assume boy if I heard it. I don’t know any of either sex but it seems like a lovely solid name that everyone’s heard of, but not too common.

I say go for it!

I only know girls with the name, but would consider it unisex. It's the pronunciation issues that would put me off though.

Rowan is a boys name to me

Boy's name to me. Mu griend has a 5 year old one who is gorgeous.

Sorry for typos. Juggling grumpy 14 month old.

I have two friends that are girls both called rowan, never met a guy called rowan.

I have the same with my middle son. Unisex name getting popular wirh girls, we had Rowan on our list for a boy. I therefore think boy when I hear it. I love it! If you love it. Use it :)

FWIW most children we meet who share my son's name are girls (rareish occurrence anyway). We've met one boy with his name who was 3 or 4 years older. Doesn't put me off his name! Go with what you love.