Contribute your knowledge to the name Rowan

Comments and insights on the name Rowan: | Edit

This name is the new "Logan" in Illinois...it was used by parents for girls for a short while, but the boys are now reclaiming it. My neighbor's son, Rowan (age 8)...sister named Reilly, has lamented that people rarely hear his name correctly: they either think it is "Roland" or "Owen", as in Owen Wilson. Rowan's nickname is Rowe.

My parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles associate the name Rowan exclusively with the old TV series "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In".

History & Meaning: This is also a Saint name (English adaptation): "St. Ruadhan (Rowan) of Lorrha was a sixth century Irish saint and one of the twelve apostles of Eirinn (Ireland)" (Cunningam, 2008). Also, Sir Willian Rowan Hamilton (1805 - 1865), Rowan Herndon, and Rowan Gaither (1909 - 1961).
The "Rowan Tree" is also known as: quickbane, quickenbeam, Thor's helper, whispering tree, wiggin, witch wood, witchbane, and wicken tree.

Rowan Oak is the name of the property formerly owned by the late author William Faulkner. (It's now a tourist site in Mississippi.)

Here in San Diego, we've been finding that native Spanish speakers have difficulty saying our son Rowan's name. It tends to come out "Rogan"

Other real-life male Rowan's:

Rowan Lascelles, British aristocrat (born 1977)
Rowan Woods, film director
Rowan Scarborough, author, political reporter, and columnist
Rowan Gillies, M.D., one-time director of "Doctors without Borders"
Rowan Gillespie, Irish artist
Rowan Anthony Williams, British Olympic boxer
Rowan Alexander, professional Scottish soccer
Rowan Jones, pro-football player, Australian Rules
Rowan Sawers, pro-football player, Australian Rules
Rowan Nayna, pro-football player, Australian Rules

Personal experiences with the name Rowan: | Edit

My three-year-old son is called Rowan. He's very friendly, happy, chatty and affectionate. He's also quite a funky, cool little fella for a small child.

My one-year-old son's name is Rowan. He's beautiful, intelligent and sweet, and fits his name perfectly!

My also one-year-old son's name is Rowan. He is rotten, grouchy, yet loving and ridiculously adorable with bright red hair reminiscent of the tree in fall.

My 10 year-old brother's named Rowan; he's compassionate, sensitive, inquisitive, and never without one of the wands he spends so much time carving. He gets many compliments on his name. It fits his gentle giant personality to a T.

Nicknames for Rowan: | Edit

row-boat
Row
Ra-ra
Roan
Ro-Ro
Ronly Bonly (do a search on Snopes)
Rowie
Rolio

Meanings and history of the name Rowan: | Edit

The Rowan tree, or Mountain Ash, is a flowering tree with red berries.

In European mythology, the Rowan tree is believed to have protective and magical properties, preventing a witch's hexes. It is also one of the favored woods to be used as a stake against vampires.

Famous real-life people named Rowan: | Edit

Rowan Atkinson, actor
Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan McDonald, son-in-law of former Australian Prime Minister Howard

Rowan in song, story & screen: | Edit

Rowan of Rin, from the series of books by Emily Rodda

Rowan Chase, M.D., Father of Robert Chase, M.D. on the TV show House.