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Original poster

What do you think of this name for a girl?

80 replies

Babydo22 · 02/04/2022 09:00

Please help! I'm due in August and we are keeping the sex a surprise ☺️ We have picked out our boy name but really struggling to find a perfect name for a girl. I'm not too keen on choosing a name that is overly feminine and want to stay away from names in the top 20. I really like the name Rowan but not sure if she would be teased for having a boy's name. What's your thoughts on Rowan (please be honest) or do you have any other suggestions. Thanks ❤️

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Fraaahnces · 02/04/2022 14:24

This is my second time on the thread… I still love the name, btw. I just popped back to say that what matters is that YOU love it and it has meaning for you. A majority of people are stupid and you don’t owe them any explanations. My name is clearly a female name. The male version is much more common though. I spent my entire primary years explaining that I was in fact, a girl…. My name WAS a girl’s name, the “e” on the end made it that way. Drove me batshit. It’s not that hard or even that uncommon now, but god, it was boring. I also spent a lot of time telling people that no, my name wasn’t really “X, Y, Z,” or a host of umpteen other vaguely related-sounding “girl’s names” that people thought would have been more suitable. Idiots.

Foxglovers · 02/04/2022 15:23

I liked this name for a girl and I actually see it as a more “feminine” name actually.
I’ve also seen Rowyn, which I think is nice?

dontblameme · 02/04/2022 17:42

@merryhouse
I know two distinct pronunciations in my (Scottish) accent.
Row (your boat) un
Row (argue) un
Both with the stress in the first syllable.

Blimecory · 02/04/2022 17:46

I really love it. It was a very strong contender for us. In some way, I regret not using it. Much prefer it for a girl than a boy.

Knightbuss · 02/04/2022 20:12

Rowan is great for either sex.

FloralsForSpring · 02/04/2022 20:19

I never think of it as a boys name

Ruralbliss · 02/04/2022 21:00

Beautiful for a girl.

anniemama22 · 02/04/2022 21:21

Rowan is very unisex. When I first heard this name I thought it sounded like a boys name, but more girls are actually being called Rowan. I think it’s beautiful, uncommon and a lot of middle names go well with it.

minniep · 02/04/2022 21:41

It's gorgeous. I know a lovely little girl called Rowan.

Marcipex · 02/04/2022 21:46

I love it for a girl!
All the Rowans I know have been girls until recently when it’s been used a lot for boys. Statistically. I only know one.
It’s a pretty flowering tree that doesn’t grow very tall. I think it’s much more suited to a girl.

christmasthoughts · 02/04/2022 22:15

What about Rowena?
I love the name Rowen but now only really think of it as a boys name.

Bergamotte · 02/04/2022 22:28

@dontblameme

My cousin's DD is Rowan pronounced Roh-un. Both pronunciations are nice but you would have that question a lot.
The girl I knew called Rowan pronounced it Roh-un, eg first syllable rhymed with "go." Which surprised me a bit because until that point I had only come across the tree (first syllable rhymed with "cow.")

It's s beautiful name, though. Strong and simple and they're such beautiful trees, especially with their bright berries in autumn. Interesting connections to folklore too- I bet she would love reading fairy stories with rowan twigs used as protection etc.
I do think it is a unisex name.

moofolk · 02/04/2022 22:40

I have known male & female Rowans.

I like it.

RedRobin100 · 02/04/2022 22:44

Yeah I like it

HomeprideSaucy · 02/04/2022 22:51

Much prefer it as a girls name!

thecatsinthecradle · 02/04/2022 22:52

I actually know a boy Rowan and a girl Rowan... I'd say it's probably more common for boys but definitely a girls name also

APurpleSquirrel · 02/04/2022 22:53

DS is a Rowan so clearly I love it. I know of a couple of boys/men called it, but also a woman I used to work with. Truly unisex & lovely for either boys or girls.

bloominglovelyorange · 02/04/2022 23:04

@Babydo22 my baby girl's name is Rowan so obviously I do like the name and see it as unisex. The problem for me with the name is that it seems to get shortened to Row all the time by well-meaning friends and relatives - even when I've asked them not to. I can see that "Row" will just be her name in future which makes me sad, as I don't like the shortening, but I can see it's inevitable, I should have realised. The other problem with the name is that RoMan (with an M) has been the fastest rising boy name for the past few years. RoMan has risen hundreds of places in the official charts to be a top 30 name now. Look at the graphs- it's come from nowhere and just exploded. In the last couple of years I've come across SO many baby RoMans at hospital, nursery, baby groups, baby swimming ....and I get asked all the time if my baby's name has a "M or W or N" in the middle of it. There's 2 Romans at the nursery and everyone gets confused. I wish I'd known that RoMan is THE top tending boy name as I'd never have used RoWan if I'd known. But then that's just me, I know it won't bother others

Calandor · 02/04/2022 23:08

Lovely and have always thought it was a girls name. I've never known a male Rowan.

Marcipex · 02/04/2022 23:36

@bloominglovelyorange my Rowan is called Roo at home.She is very small.
Some of the girls at her school used to call her Rosy posy.

APurpleSquirrel · 02/04/2022 23:56

@Calandor

Lovely and have always thought it was a girls name. I've never known a male Rowan.
Rowan Atkinson?
AnnaSW1 · 02/04/2022 23:58

I'd assume it was a boy

Keladrythesaviour · 03/04/2022 00:02

I only know female Rowans, I think it's lovely!

Buttercup54321 · 05/04/2022 00:12

Too boyish.
Rowena?
Rosemary?

Clairejay34 · 05/04/2022 19:30

Rowan is lovely for a girl. As an alternative what about Robyn?