Rowan

[ScarlettCrossbones]

What was the first thing you thought of when you saw the name Rowan?

Girl or boy?

Pronounced to rhyme with 'cow' or 'grow'?

Just interested! Think there might be a difference in opinion between Scotland and England, so if you don't mind putting where you're from too ... thx! (Oh, and do you like it???)

I knew a boy at school called Rowan ( as in Row your boat) I think I prefer it as a girls name though

A tree, nice red berries.

A boy because of Atkinson, I suppose, but could be either.

I'd rhyme it with 'grow'(southern England), but in the Manchester Rambler Ewan MacColl rhymed it with 'cow' (Useful Fact # 763). I thought it sounded odd, but is it regional then? He was Mancunian but born in Scotland.

Lovely name. I've known it as a girl's name but I think it's gorgeous for a boy too - have just come across it in a book.

I would pronounce it to rhyme with grow, and I'm from England.

I would pronounce it "grow" for a boy and "cow" for a girl. I'm from Scotland and I think initially of a girl, but just because I happen to have a female friend called Rowan. I wouldn't think it feminine if I met a boy of that name.

I think its lovely, definitely a girl's name in my head
Row-an is in row your boat

I think girl, to rhyme with cow.

I think its pretty, I like it!

But if it was for a boy I would think it rhymed with "grow" - like Rowan Atkinson or Rowan Williams. Not so keen on it for a boy, but not because its too girly or anything, just a bit ... meh.

We have a boy at school whose name is pronounced Row-an as in row your boat, but it's spelt Roan, so of course he gets called Roan as in colour of horse..

Both. It was on the list for DD precisely because it was a gender neutral name.

Boy, but probably because my friend's DS is Rowan.

I met a girl called Rowan recently and I didn't think 'boys name'.

It's a lovely name BTW.

I think a certain (famous)MNetter!

Girl. To rhyme with grow. Was one in my sister's class in the 70s. (north-east).

I know a boy and a girl Rowan (actually, they're both in their 30s, so I should say a man and a woman), and they both pronounce it as in grow.

DS is Rowan, pronounced as in grow like the tree and like Rowans Atkinson and Williams. I also knew a woman called Rowan a few years ago, pronounced the same way.

I love the name Rowan. I think of a boy, but lovely for either. I've always pronounced it as in 'grow', but I remember in the TV adaptation of The Jewel in the Crown there was a character called Nigel Rowan and it was pronounced as in 'cow'. I remember thinking 'oh, that's funny', at the time, but I don't know if one is right or wrong.

Interesting! I would always think it was pronounced to rhyme with grow for a boy, but never for a girl ? always to rhyme with cow. And I'm in Scotland. Glad you mostly all think it's nice though, it's near the top of my list! (But only for a girl, in fact!)

I know girls called it and pronounced both ways and a boy called it pronounced Row as in boat. I love it - am intending to call son it if I ever have one.

Can also be spelt Rohan - I know a (male) one of those as well as female Rowans.

Boy. Rhyming with grow.
I like it. DD would have probably been Rowan if she'd been a boy.

I would pronounce it to rhyme with grow.

I love this name, I see it as equally a boys' and girls' name. I considered it as a middle name for our (not-yet-born)DD, but OH vetoed it.

I am from England, lived 5 years in Scotland, now live in Germany - if that's any help!!

This is dd's name! I like it (obviously). I have never thought about pronunciation, we pronounce it as 'grow'.

I love this name. So does DH. I would use it for a boy pronounced 'cow'.
I'm in Scotland. Scottish rugby player a few years ago had this name.

Think it can be used for both genders.

I love it as A guirl's name only, pronounced to rhyme with cow. Im in Scotland.

Do not like it for a boy at all.

love it. rowan like row.
boy i think like blackadder

I like it as a girls name, but with the spelling Rohan.

I'm in Wales.