All the Rs

[TeddyTonks]

Robert (Robbie);
Rowan; or
Rufus?

What do you like best?

In Scotland, the 'Row' in Rowan rhymes with cow.

Oh, thanks for explaining!

If dd2 was a boy she was going to be Rufus with her second middle name being Rowan :)

I'm not keen on Robert, and really dislike Robbie, which is strange as I love Roberta NN Bobbie but there you go

No worries, good luck choosing a name!

I’m another one confused by how many people on here say Rowan is overused when it’s ranked about 70 or so.
I really like the name and am considering it for my son. I do get a bit perturbed by people’s ‘overdone’ comments and just wonder if it really can be, judging by the name data!
Any contrasting opinions/insights would be interesting!

It probably depends where you live. I'm in East London and every YR and Y1 class has a "Rowan X" and a "Rowan Y". It might be less popular in other areas.

Rufus
I also like Roman and Rafferty nn Raffi

That’s interesting, thanks. I guess it makes sense that different areas have their own name trends.
Anyone else who’s found Rowan overused, where are you based?

I'm in the Midlands and don't know any little Rowans. In fact,I only know one, originally from SE England, now in Australia!

Rhuari
Rupert
Raphael
Rueben
Raymundo
Ronaldo

Loving the extra R suggestions, have added Rafferty (Rafi) and Rory to the list 😍

Robert

I think Rowan feels so overdone partly because RoMan with an M is THE top fastest rising boy name @TeddyTonks @eachpeachpearplum12
RoMan is now top 30 and still rising so could be top 10 soon. I know RoWan and RoMan are different names but when you come across quite a few babies with each name they do blend together. Particularly when neither name have ever in history been top 100 before the last couple of years yet now both names are catapulting up it. Like previous posters have said, I also know absolutely LOADS of baby RoMan , RoWan, RoHan, Roans etc. 3 years ago I'd never met anyone with these names so they're all very trendy if that's what appeals to you.
2 of the baby Rowan's I know are girls so there's a risk the name becomes a girl name as unisex names tend to.
I love Rufus and Robin and Rafi. Rory I find a bit trendy but still nice

Definitely Robert! Lovely underused classic name.

Rowan already feels dated and Rufus will date soon too. Rufus is a bit pseudo posh and Rowan is a bit of a naughty boy name.

Robert is such a classy choice with good nickname potential. Pick that!
Rowan / Roman is VERY trendy and well used in 2022 @eachpeachpearplum12 if that's what you're after. Interesting that Rowan with W is top 100 for girls (and not boys) in scotland. Actually prefer for a girl but too trendy for my tastes either way now.
Rufus is nice but rhymes with dufus. Don't think that matters mind you.

Yes, I'm Scottish and have only ever met female Rowans in Scotland. I wouldn't view it as a 'trendy' name in Scotland at all - it's a name I've been familiar with from childhood and I know of Rowans of all ages from babies to women in their 40s.

I knew of Rowan Atkinson - obviously male - but funnily never associated his name with the female Rowan in Scotland (both pronounced differently as I mention in previous post, so quite distinct names to me).

I loved RoNan but my partner didn't unfortunately. I don't like RoMan at all - funny when the names are only one letter different. We did go with another R name in the end though!

I have a Roan (pronounced rowan/rohan)

@user3199 that's very interesting, thank you for replying. I looked up the latest Scottish official statistics and Rowan was the number 3 fastest rising girl name in Scotland last year, it leapt up a huge 41 places and is now top 100 for girls. If you go to the first page of the report, the name Rowan is listed as one of the fastest trending girl names 📈 📈 .

www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/babies-names/21/babies-first-names-21-report.pdf

That's interesting - maybe suggesting that there might be a shift in girls names more generally in coming years from all the vowel heavy ones that are currently popular? As it's so different to all the Evie, Millie, Olivia, Ella etc etc type names that dominate the top of the charts at the moment. I think Rowan is a great name anyway!

I actually like them all, but Rufus best - a fab name. Rowan I like more for a girl. Robert is a good solid name.

Ralph!

I thought Rufus was only a dog's name.

What about Rory?

Our Airedale dog was called Rufus, SushiShopSearch!