Rowan
Meaning of Rowan
Rowan is the English form of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Ruadhán, a diminutive of ruadh, meaning "red," and it is conventionally translated as "little red one" or "little redhead." The word also names the rowan tree, the mountain ash of northern Britain and Ireland, and standard name dictionaries trace the given name to the Gaelic personal name rather than to the tree, though the two have long reinforced each other in English. It is pronounced ROH-un (/ˈroʊ.ən/), with the stress on the first syllable, and it is used for girls as well as boys.
The name's best-known bearer is Rowan Atkinson, the English actor and comedian behind Blackadder and Mr. Bean. Rowan Blanchard, the American actress known for Girl Meets World, is a familiar younger namesake.
In the United States, Rowan was rare for most of the twentieth century, appearing in the records in single figures in many years. It has risen sharply since: it ranked 970th in 2000 and 113th in 2020. In 2025 it was given to 5,212 babies and ranked 59th, the highest position it has reached.
Pronunciation
Scottish Gaelic
- Pronunced as ROH-un (/ˈroʊ.ən)
Irish Gaelic
- Pronunced as ROH-un (/ˈroʊ.ən/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Rowan
| Rowan Atkinson is an English actor, comedian, and writer best known for Not the Nine O'Clock News, Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and the Johnny English films. |
| Rowan Blanchard is an American actress best known for Girl Meets World, with roles in Spy Kids, Snowpiercer, and Crush. |
| Rowan Anthony Liburd is a forward for Aveley who was born in England and represents Saint Kitts and Nevis internationally. |
| Rowan Cheshire is a British freestyle halfpipe skier who won bronze at the 2013 World Junior Championships and in 2014 became the first British woman to win an FIS Halfpipe World Cup. |
| Rowan RoJo Jones is a retired AFL player who played for the West Coast Eagles. |
