Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Rowena
GirlGermanic, Welsh· “uncertain; possibly 'fame and joy'”
- Meaning
- uncertain; possibly 'fame and joy' (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Germanic, Welsh
- Pronunciation
- roh-EE-nuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #4,441
- US babies 2025
- 32
- Best rank
- #429 (1893)
- Peak year
- 1917
Meaning and origin of Rowena
Rowena is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly 'fame and joy'”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Germanic and Welsh roots.
Rowena appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's twelfth century history of Britain as the daughter of the Saxon leader Hengist, who marries the British king Vortigern. Its origin is uncertain: it may come from Germanic words for fame and joy, or it may be an adaptation of a Welsh name such as Rhonwen, white lance or fair-haired. Sir Walter Scott gave it new life with the Saxon heroine Lady Rowena in Ivanhoe. It is said roh-EE-nuh, with the stress on the second syllable. Its long history in English legend gives it a storybook quality.
Popularity over time
Rowena has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 82 different years. Its best national rank was #429 in 1893, and the most babies received it in 1917, when 224 were named Rowena. In 2025, 32 babies were named Rowena, and it ranked #4,441 nationally. That is 167% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #495 in 1920, #897 in 1950, #1,860 in 1980, #7,082 in 2000, #14,670 in 2010, and #4,441 in 2025. Of the 10,526 US girls named Rowena since records began, 17% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1930s come next, with 1,481 babies. Since 2010, 408 more have been named Rowena.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Floy, Albina, Gertie, Lura, and Agatha.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Rowena is usually pronounced roh-EE-nuh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with R and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Rowena
A few middle names that flow with Rowena: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rowena
Similar names
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Lists that include Rowena
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rowena mean?
Rowena is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly 'fame and joy'”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Germanic and Welsh roots.
What is the origin of the name Rowena?
Rowena has Germanic and Welsh roots. Rowena appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's twelfth century history of Britain as the daughter of the Saxon leader Hengist, who marries the British king Vortigern.
Is Rowena a popular name?
Not especially. Rowena ranked #4,441 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Rowena a boy or girl name?
Rowena is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Rowena?
Rowena is usually pronounced roh-EE-nuh. 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