Unisex nameCurrently #71 in the USRising

Rowan

ROH-un//ˈroʊən//

2 syllablesPeak year: 20245 lettersStarts with R

Meaning & origin

Little red one, or rowan tree

Rowan comes from the Irish Ó Ruadháin, related to 'ruadh', meaning red, and also names the rowan tree, long associated in Celtic folklore with protection against harm. Its nature meaning and soft sound have made it a popular modern unisex choice.

Rowan's popularity over time

Yearly US births named Rowan, Social Security Administration data
YearBirths named Rowan
19165
19187
19196
19205
19219
192211
19237
19246
19258
19268
19277
192811
193113
19325
19336
193411
19357
19367
19378
19388
19397
19405
194212
19437
19449
194511
19468
19478
194810
194913
19509
19515
195212
19536
19545
19558
19568
195710
19587
19597
19605
19616
19635
196416
19656
19668
19678
19687
196910
197111
19727
19737
19747
197515
197612
197813
197912
198019
198126
198226
198319
198425
198525
198631
198721
198839
198940
199034
199169
199275
1993100
1994146
1995170
1996235
1997276
1998249
1999283
2000313
2001371
2002413
2003573
2004908
2005950
20061,125
20071,580
20081,649
20091,574
20101,563
20111,591
20121,835
20131,911
20142,321
20152,805
20163,545
20174,295
20184,500
20194,575
20204,436
20214,908
20224,899
20235,497
20245,840

Rowan through the decades

  • Rowan peaked in 2024, when 5,840 babies were named Rowan in the US.
  • Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Rowan has risen 181% compared to the 10 years before that.
  • Rowan currently ranks #71 in the US and is on the rise.

Nicknames

Ro

Variants & spellings

Rowen

Names like Rowan

Similar-sounding names.

Sibling names for Rowan

A different sound, a similar rhythm.