Fun Facts About the Name Rowan
- Gaining ground: Rowan remained in the U.S. top 100 for 4 consecutive years, from 2022 through 2025. In 2025, it gained 12 ranking positions compared with the previous year.
- More than 72 thousand babies named Rowan: U.S. records list 72,814 babies given the name Rowan from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 22,216 girls received the name Rowan - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.
What Does the Name Rowan Mean?
Rowan has two separate sources. As an Irish name it is an anglicized form of Ruadhán, a diminutive built from the Irish word ruadh, "red," with the suffix -án, giving the sense "little red one," commonly understood as "little red-haired one." Independently, Rowan is the English name of the rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia), also called the mountain ash, a small tree with clusters of red berries; the given name can also come directly from this tree name rather than from Irish. The tree word belongs to the dialects of Scotland and northern England and came into English from Scandinavian, related to Old Norse reynir and Norwegian rogn.
Rowan Name History & Origins
The Irish personal name Ruadhán was borne by several early Irish saints. The best known is St. Ruadhán of Lorrha, who founded a monastery at Lorrha in County Tipperary and died around 584, and who is counted among the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Through such figures the name was established in Ireland, and it was later anglicized in a number of forms, including Rowan and Ruane. The surname Rowan can descend from this name as well, from the Gaelic Ó Ruadháin and Mac Ruadháin, meaning "descendant" or "son of Ruadhán."
The tree behind the other origin, the rowan or mountain ash, grows across northern Europe and was long a familiar plant in Scotland and northern England. In Scottish Gaelic the tree is caorann, and in Irish caorthann. It had a place in local folklore as a protective tree, and sprigs of rowan were sometimes kept in houses or byres to guard against harm. English surnames and place names can also derive from the tree itself, apart from any Gaelic personal name.
As a given name in English-speaking countries, Rowan is used for both boys and girls, drawing on the Irish personal name and on the tree name, which are distinct in origin though they sound and look alike in modern English.
How Popular is the Name Rowan?
Rowan recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Rowan entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #249 | 1,240 | 0.0771% |
| 2024 | #266 | 1,193 | 0.0740% |
| 2023 | #234 | 1,287 | 0.0803% |
| 2022 | #277 | 1,138 | 0.0694% |
| 2021 | #241 | 1,261 | 0.0769% |
| 2020 | #255 | 1,179 | 0.0730% |
| 2019 | #230 | 1,352 | 0.0806% |
| 2018 | #212 | 1,459 | 0.0858% |
| 2017 | #212 | 1,448 | 0.0839% |
| 2016 | #240 | 1,351 | 0.0763% |
| 2015 | #331 | 989 | 0.0554% |
| 2014 | #413 | 774 | 0.0433% |
| 2013 | #427 | 714 | 0.0407% |
| 2012 | #454 | 684 | 0.0388% |
| 2011 | #534 | 544 | 0.0309% |
| 2010 | #493 | 608 | 0.0342% |
| 2009 | #497 | 616 | 0.0335% |
| 2008 | #471 | 676 | 0.0358% |
| 2007 | #453 | 711 | 0.0370% |
| 2006 | #638 | 452 | 0.0238% |
| 2005 | #766 | 347 | 0.0188% |
| 2004 | #709 | 379 | 0.0206% |
| 2003 | #957 | 245 | 0.0134% |
| 2002 | #1,041 | 207 | 0.0115% |
| 2001 | #1,180 | 174 | 0.0097% |
| 2000 | #1,242 | 158 | 0.0087% |
| 1999 | #1,302 | 140 | 0.0079% |
| 1998 | #1,253 | 146 | 0.0083% |
| 1997 | #1,128 | 167 | 0.0096% |
| 1996 | #1,218 | 146 | 0.0083% |
| 1995 | #1,500 | 106 | 0.0060% |
| 1994 | #1,632 | 93 | 0.0052% |
| 1993 | #2,170 | 62 | 0.0034% |
| 1992 | #3,397 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1991 | #3,615 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1990 | #14,718 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #6,443 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #7,553 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #9,570 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #6,491 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #12,043 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #6,670 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #7,146 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #6,754 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #10,087 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #7,974 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #8,776 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #4,055 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #59 | 5,212 | 0.3051% |
| 2024 | #71 | 4,647 | 0.2709% |
| 2023 | #76 | 4,210 | 0.2464% |
| 2022 | #96 | 3,761 | 0.2156% |
| 2021 | #105 | 3,647 | 0.2086% |
| 2020 | #113 | 3,257 | 0.1888% |
| 2019 | #118 | 3,223 | 0.1797% |
| 2018 | #129 | 3,041 | 0.1675% |
| 2017 | #140 | 2,847 | 0.1539% |
| 2016 | #182 | 2,194 | 0.1156% |
| 2015 | #219 | 1,816 | 0.0948% |
| 2014 | #240 | 1,547 | 0.0806% |
| 2013 | #292 | 1,197 | 0.0633% |
| 2012 | #300 | 1,151 | 0.0607% |
| 2011 | #309 | 1,047 | 0.0551% |
| 2010 | #328 | 955 | 0.0498% |
| 2009 | #332 | 958 | 0.0483% |
| 2008 | #339 | 973 | 0.0477% |
| 2007 | #365 | 869 | 0.0419% |
| 2006 | #423 | 673 | 0.0327% |
| 2005 | #437 | 603 | 0.0302% |
| 2004 | #477 | 529 | 0.0267% |
| 2003 | #626 | 328 | 0.0166% |
| 2002 | #818 | 206 | 0.0106% |
| 2001 | #828 | 197 | 0.0101% |
| 2000 | #972 | 155 | 0.0079% |
| 1999 | #992 | 143 | 0.0074% |
| 1998 | #1,203 | 103 | 0.0054% |
| 1997 | #1,142 | 109 | 0.0058% |
| 1996 | #1,256 | 89 | 0.0047% |
| 1995 | #1,506 | 64 | 0.0034% |
| 1994 | #1,709 | 53 | 0.0027% |
| 1993 | #2,119 | 38 | 0.0019% |
| 1992 | #1,950 | 42 | 0.0021% |
| 1991 | #1,976 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1990 | #2,419 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1989 | #2,458 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1988 | #2,185 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1987 | #3,472 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #2,674 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1985 | #2,580 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1984 | #3,070 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #4,088 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #2,950 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #2,477 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1980 | #3,800 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1979 | #3,526 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #3,193 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #3,227 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #3,889 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #4,551 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #4,415 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #4,358 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #3,109 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #3,030 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #3,619 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1967 | #3,190 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #3,195 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #3,860 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #2,100 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #4,524 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1961 | #3,993 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #4,505 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1959 | #3,550 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #3,519 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #2,796 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #3,163 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #3,164 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #4,282 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1953 | #3,736 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #2,354 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1951 | #4,155 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #2,737 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #2,208 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1948 | #2,587 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #3,058 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #2,881 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #2,223 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #2,605 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1943 | #3,190 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1942 | #3,957 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,852 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #3,065 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1938 | #2,827 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1937 | #2,867 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #3,100 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1935 | #3,207 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1934 | #2,373 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1933 | #3,574 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1932 | #4,199 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #2,196 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1928 | #2,620 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1927 | #3,719 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #3,333 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #3,352 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #4,264 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #3,755 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1922 | #2,771 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1921 | #3,175 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1920 | #4,853 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #4,091 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1918 | #3,649 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1916 | #4,404 | 5 | 0.0006% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Rowan
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How the Name Rowan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Rowan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Rowan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.