Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Rowan
UnisexIrish, English· “little red one; rowan tree”
- Meaning
- little red one; rowan tree
- Origin
- Irish, English
- Pronunciation
- ROH-uhn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #59
- US babies 2025
- 5,212
- Best rank
- #59 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Rowan
Rowan is an Irish and English name that is usually said to mean “little red one; rowan tree”.
Rowan has two roots that happily meet. In Irish it comes from Ruadhán, a diminutive of ruadh, "red", so it means roughly "little red one", perhaps first given to a red-haired child. In English, rowan is also the name of the mountain ash, a tree with bright red berries that folklore in Britain and Scandinavia credited with protective power against witchcraft. The name is used for both boys and girls, and it fits the modern taste for gentle nature names with a traditional backbone. Rowan sounds soft yet grounded, and it suits parents who like Irish heritage names as well as those drawn to trees and woodland.
Popularity over time
Rowan first appears in US Social Security records in 1916. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 27 different years, starting in 1999. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #59, and its highest count, 5,212 babies. Use has grown 187% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #4,853 in 1920, #2,737 in 1950, #3,800 in 1980, #972 in 2000, #328 in 2010, and #59 in 2025. Of the 50,628 US boys named Rowan since records began, 49% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 19,019 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Emerson, Oakley, and Rory.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Rowan ranked highest in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Hampshire.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | #5 | 19 |
| Colorado | #22 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | #23 | 41 |
| North Dakota | #23 | 26 |
| Utah | #25 | 108 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Rowan is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 29% of US babies named Rowan were girls and 71% were boys.
Rowan is usually pronounced ROH-uhn, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with R and ends in “-an”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Rohan and Rowen.
Middle names for Rowan
A few middle names that flow with Rowan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rowan
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Lists that include Rowan
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rowan mean?
Rowan is an Irish and English name that is usually said to mean “little red one; rowan tree”.
What is the origin of the name Rowan?
Rowan has Irish and English roots. Rowan has two roots that happily meet.
Is Rowan a popular name?
Yes. Rowan ranked #59 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Rowan a boy or girl name?
Rowan is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 29% of US babies named Rowan were girls and 71% were boys.
How do you pronounce Rowan?
Rowan is usually pronounced ROH-uhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings