Rowan Unisex

Popularity: #59 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROH-ən //ˈroʊ.ən//

Origin: Irish; Scottish; English

Meaning: Irish: little redhead; Scottish: from the rowan tree

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Rowan has its roots in the Gaelic language, specifically from the Irish name "Ruadhán," which is derived from the word "ruadh," meaning "red." This etymology reflects the name's association with the rowan tree, known for its bright red berries and its significance in various cultures. The name made its way into English through the Old Irish and Middle English periods, where it was adopted as both a given name and a surname, often linked to the natural world and its attributes.

Historically, the name Rowan has been associated with various figures and legends. In Celtic mythology, the rowan tree is considered sacred, often linked to protection and magic.

It was believed that the rowan tree could ward off evil spirits, which contributed to its cultural significance in ancient societies. The name has been borne by several notable figures throughout history, including saints and scholars, particularly in Ireland and Scotland, where the Gaelic language and culture flourished.

The name's resonance extends into literature and folklore, where it symbolizes strength and resilience. In medieval texts, the rowan tree was often depicted as a guardian against malevolent forces, further embedding the name within the cultural consciousness.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Row" have emerged, reflecting the name's adaptability and enduring appeal across generations. Overall, Rowan encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic heritage, historical significance, and cultural symbolism, marking its place in the annals of names.

Famous people named Rowan

In this section, you will find notable people named Rowan. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Rowan who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Rowan who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Rowan Atkinson is an actor and comedian best known for Mr. Bean, Blackadder, and Johnny English.

Rowan Blanchard is an actress best known for Girl Meets World, The Goldbergs, and A Wrinkle in Time.

Rowan Williams is a theologian and author best known for serving as the Archbishop of Canterbury and his writings on spirituality.

Fictional characters named Rowan

The following list of fictional characters named Rowan is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Rowan is a fictional character from the book series The Witcher. They are a member of the magical community and play a significant role in the events surrounding Geralt of Rivia.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rowan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RonanRoryReidRileyRafe

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rowan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

RonanRoryRylanRoweRafeReubenRocco

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Rowan was first seen in the United States in 1916.

Rowan has ranked as high as #61 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Rowan has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Rowan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rowan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rowan.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 6,452 5,212 1,240
2024 5,865 4,667 1,198
2023 5,503 4,215 1,288
2022 4,902 3,763 1,139
2021 4,910 3,648 1,262
2020 4,437 3,258 1,179
2019 4,576 3,223 1,353
2018 4,500 3,041 1,459
2017 4,295 2,847 1,448
2016 3,545 2,194 1,351
2015 2,805 1,816 989
2014 2,322 1,548 774
2013 1,911 1,197 714
2012 1,835 1,151 684
2011 1,591 1,047 544
2010 1,563 955 608
2009 1,574 958 616
2008 1,649 973 676
2007 1,580 869 711
2006 1,125 673 452
2005 950 603 347
2004 908 529 379
2003 573 328 245
2002 413 206 207
2001 371 197 174
2000 313 155 158
1999 283 143 140
1998 249 103 146
1997 276 109 167
1996 235 89 146
1995 170 64 106
1994 146 53 93
1993 100 38 62
1992 75 42 33
1991 69 39 30
1990 34 29 5
1989 40 27 13
1988 39 29 10
1987 21 14 7
1986 31 20 11
1985 25 20 5
1984 25 15 10
1983 19 10 9
1982 26 16 10
1981 26 20 6
1980 19 11 8
1979 12 12 0
1978 13 13 0
1976 12 12 0
1975 15 9 6
1974 7 7 0
1973 7 7 0
1972 7 7 0
1971 11 11 0
1969 10 10 0
1968 7 7 0
1967 8 8 0
1966 8 8 0
1965 6 6 0
1964 16 16 0
1963 5 5 0
1961 6 6 0
1960 5 5 0
1959 7 7 0
1958 7 7 0
1957 10 10 0
1956 8 8 0
1955 8 8 0
1954 5 5 0
1953 6 6 0
1952 12 12 0
1951 5 5 0
1950 9 9 0
1949 13 13 0
1948 10 10 0
1947 8 8 0
1946 8 8 0
1945 11 11 0
1944 9 9 0
1943 7 7 0
1942 12 5 7
1940 5 5 0
1939 7 7 0
1938 8 8 0
1937 8 8 0
1936 7 7 0
1935 7 7 0
1934 11 11 0
1933 6 6 0
1932 5 5 0
1931 13 13 0
1928 11 11 0
1927 7 7 0
1926 8 8 0
1925 8 8 0
1924 6 6 0
1923 7 7 0
1922 11 11 0
1921 9 9 0
1920 5 5 0
1919 6 6 0
1918 7 7 0
1916 5 5 0

Top States for Rowan (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 436
7%
TX 399
7%
OH 301
5%
PA 295
5%
FL 285
5%
NY 223
4%
IL 199
3%
NC 190
3%
VA 188
3%
MI 187
3%
TN 186
3%
WA 186
3%
IN 164
3%
CO 162
3%
GA 154
3%
MO 152
3%
MA 144
2%
UT 118
2%
AZ 115
2%
SC 107
2%
WI 107
2%
MN 105
2%
KY 99
2%
OR 98
2%
NJ 94
2%
AL 90
2%
OK 83
1%
KS 82
1%
IA 78
1%
LA 76
1%
MD 76
1%
CT 70
1%
AR 69
1%
MS 53
1%
ID 52
1%
NE 46
1%
NV 42
1%
NH 41
1%
WV 38
1%
ME 32
1%
SD 30
1%
ND 28
0%
MT 25
0%
RI 22
0%
NM 22
0%
AK 19
0%
DC 13
0%
VT 13
0%
DE 11
0%
HI 10
0%
WY 8
0%