Rowan
Say it: ROH-an
Boy and boyIrishMeans little red one5 letters2 syllables
#76
in Ireland (2025)
#79 with spellings combined
78
babies in 2025
#79
best rank (2025)
955
babies since 1966
Up 115
10-year rank change
Rowan through the years
Compare with another name →boysgirls
Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78 | #79 | 16 | #267 |
| 2024 | 61 | #92 | 7 | #494 |
| 2023 | 51 | #115 | 3 | #832 |
| 2022 | 56 | #112 | 8 | #453 |
| 2021 | 38 | #153 | 4 | #740 |
| 2020 | 45 | #134 | 6 | #534 |
| 2019 | 36 | #163 | 6 | #546 |
| 2018 | 33 | #172 | 10 | #408 |
| 2017 | 43 | #142 | 6 | #580 |
| 2016 | 30 | #190 | 4 | #749 |
| 2015 | 29 | #194 | - | - |
| 2014 | 36 | #174 | 5 | #663 |
| 2013 | 23 | #237 | 4 | #748 |
| 2012 | 26 | #221 | 5 | #679 |
| 2011 | 14 | #308 | - | - |
| 2010 | 31 | #197 | 4 | #758 |
| 2009 | 22 | #240 | 4 | #742 |
| 2008 | 30 | #191 | 3 | #860 |
| 2007 | 15 | #253 | - | - |
| 2006 | 26 | #178 | 5 | #551 |
| 2005 | 22 | #181 | 5 | #524 |
| 2004 | 14 | #214 | 3 | #677 |
| 2003 | 15 | #200 | - | - |
| 2002 | 8 | #267 | - | - |
| 2001 | 8 | #251 | - | - |
| 2000 | 5 | #312 | - | - |
| 1999 | 7 | #241 | - | - |
| 1998 | 6 | #242 | - | - |
| 1997 | 3 | #382 | - | - |
| 1996 | 7 | #261 | - | - |
| 1995 | 7 | #241 | - | - |
| 1994 | 4 | #299 | - | - |
| 1993 | 3 | #339 | - | - |
| 1992 | 5 | #267 | - | - |
| 1991 | 3 | #324 | - | - |
| 1990 | 7 | #229 | - | - |
| 1989 | 10 | #190 | - | - |
| 1988 | 5 | #254 | - | - |
| 1987 | 3 | #303 | - | - |
| 1986 | 7 | #230 | - | - |
| 1984 | 3 | #318 | - | - |
| 1983 | 4 | #282 | - | - |
| 1982 | 6 | #248 | - | - |
| 1980 | 10 | #213 | - | - |
| 1979 | 9 | #218 | - | - |
| 1978 | 5 | #255 | - | - |
| 1977 | 5 | #273 | - | - |
| 1976 | 7 | #232 | - | - |
| 1975 | 7 | #236 | - | - |
| 1974 | 6 | #251 | - | - |
| 1973 | 8 | #227 | - | - |
| 1972 | 3 | #307 | - | - |
| 1971 | 4 | #280 | - | - |
| 1970 | 3 | #305 | - | - |
| 1966 | 3 | #256 | - | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Rowan mean?
Little red one
Irish, from Ruadhán, built on ruadh (red) with the small ending -án; also the English name of a tree.
Say it right
ROHan
The story of Rowan
Rowan has two roots. As an Irish name it is an English form of Ruadhán, from ruadh (red) and the small ending -án, so “little red one”. The surname Ó Ruadháin, “descendant of Ruadhán”, gave the family name Rowan as well.
The best-known Ruadhán is the sixth-century saint who founded a monastery at Lorrha in County Tipperary. As a modern name, especially for girls, Rowan is also linked with the rowan tree, the mountain ash, whose English name comes from Scandinavia.
A handful of Irish boys have been named Rowan most years since the 1970s. It has climbed steeply since 2020 and had its best year yet in 2025, with 78 boys and a combined rank of number 79. Girls use it too, and 16 girls were named Rowan in 2025. In Northern Ireland it reached 30th for boys in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Rowan (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Rowan (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA Baby Names, Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Rowan | 78 | 955 |
In Northern Ireland
#30 in 2025 with 56 babies. Best rank #30 (2025); 464 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Rowan is also given to girls: 108 since 2004, 16 in 2025.