Rowan
ROH-un /ˈroʊ.ən/
Meaning of Rowan
Rowan has two origins. In Irish it is the anglicisation of Ruadhán — a diminutive of ruadh ('red'), meaning 'little red-haired one.' In English it also refers to the rowan tree (also called mountain ash), from the Old Norse reynir. Saint Ruadhán of Lorrha (6th century) is the Irish saint associated with the personal-name tradition. The name works equally for boys and girls in modern English.
Current popularity of Rowan
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #185 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #59 |
| IE | 2024 | #8 |
Notable bearers of Rowan
Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury, 2002–2012); Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean); Rowan Blanchard (actor).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Rowan — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31