Rowan (/ˈroʊən/) is a traditionally masculine Irish given name and surname, now also in use as a given name for girls.[1] Variants of the name include Roan,[2] Rohan, Ruadhán, and Ruadh. The name comes from the Irish surname Ó Ruadháin[3] and from the word ruadh, meaning "red-haired" or "rusty." When used as a feminine name, it is often in reference to the tree, the name of which has Scandinavian origins.[4] It is also an Arabic feminine name (روان) referring to a river in Paradise.[5] The name shares the same roots as the names Raya, Rana, Rania and Rayan.
| Pronunciation | /ˈroʊən/ |
|---|---|
| Gender | Unisex |
| Language(s) |
|
| Other names | |
| See also | |
Notable people with the name include:
Surname
edit- Andrew Summers Rowan (1857–1943), American army officer
- Archibald Hamilton Rowan (1751–1834), Irish celebrity and founding member of The Dublin Society of United Irishmen
- Athol Rowan (1921–1998), South African cricketer
- Barbara Ann Rowan (1938–2020), American attorney
- Carl Rowan (1925–2000), American journalist and author
- Chad Rowan (1969–2024), Akebono, Hawaiian sumo wrestler
- Sir Charles Rowan (c. 1782 – 1852), officer in the British Army and Commissioner of Police of the (London) Metropolis
- Dan Rowan (1922–1987), American actor and comedian, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
- Dave Rowan (1882–1955), Canadian baseball player
- Dawn Rowan (born 1946), Australian therapist
- Dominic Rowan (born 1970), English actor
- Ellis Rowan (1847–1922), Australian naturalist and illustrator
- Eric Rowan (1909–1993), South African cricketer
- Erick Rowan (born 1981), ring name of American wrestler Joseph Rudd
- Ev Rowan (1902–1956), American football player
- Ford Rowan, American television reporter, and panelist on Meet the Press
- George Rowan, Scottish footballer
- Henry Rowan (1923–2015), American philanthropist and engineer, namesake of Rowan University
- Jenny Rowan (born 1949), New Zealand politician
- John Rowan (disambiguation), several people
- Jonathan Rowan (born 1981), English footballer
- Joseph Rowan (1870–1930), US Representative from New York
- Kelly Rowan (born 1965), Canadian actress and model
- Leslie Rowan (1908–1972), British civil servant and industrialist
- Lou Rowan (1925–2017), Australian cricket umpire
- Louis R. Rowan (1911–1988), American businessman and racehorse owner and breeder
- Matthew Rowan (died 1769), acting governor of North Carolina, 1753–54
- Peter Rowan (born 1942), American bluegrass musician and composer
- Ron Rowan (born 1962), American basketball player
- Sheila Rowan (physicist) (born 1969), British physicist
- Stephen Clegg Rowan (1808–1890), American vice admiral
- William Rowan (1789–1879), British military commander
Given name
edit- Saint Rowan, Irish abbot of the 6th century and one of the Apostles of Ireland
- Rowan Alexander, Scottish footballer and manager
- Rowan Atkinson (born 1955), English actor, comedian, and screenwriter
- Rowan Barrett (born 1972), Canadian basketball player in Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Rowan Bettjeman, New Zealander YouTuber, actor, director, and producer
- Rowan Blanchard (born 2001), American actress
- Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, American writer
- Rowan Crothers (born 1997), Australian swimmer
- Rowan Cronjé (1937–2014), Rhodesian politician
- Rowan Deacon, English director and filmmaker
- Rowan Pelling (born 1968), British editrice and columnist
- Rowan Vine (born 1982), English footballer
- Rowan Williams (born 1950), Archbishop of Canterbury
- Rowan Woods, Australian film director
- William Rowan Hamilton (1805–1865), Irish mathematician
Fictional characters
edit- Rowan, one of the two main protagonists in Fire Emblem Warriors
- Rowan, the main character in Emily Rodda's Rowan of Rin fantasy books
- Rowan Damisch, one of the two main characters in the novel Scythe
- Rowan Khanna, in the mobile game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Rowan LaFontaine, in the film Jason X
- Rowan Mayfair, in the Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy by Anne Rice
- Rowan Mills, in NBC's The Blacklist
- Rowan Morrison, in 1973 film The Wicker Man
- Rowan North, the main antagonist of the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot
- Rowan Omondi, a main character in Alice Oseman's I Was Born for This
- Rowan Theirin (née Guerrin), in Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne by David Gaider
- Rowan Whitethorn, in the Throne of Glass book series by Sarah J. Maas
- Professor Rowan, in the Pokémon franchise
- Lily Rowan, in the Nero Wolfe franchise by Rex Stout
- Rosalie Rowan, in the DC Animated Universe
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Williams, Alex (18 August 2016). "Is Hayden a Boy or Girl? Both. 'Post-Gender' Baby Names Are on the Rise". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Roan – meaning of Roan – name Roan". Retrieved 2012-07-19.
- ^ "Behind the Name: Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Rowan". Retrieved 2012-07-19.
- ^ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006). Oxford Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press. p. 236. ISBN 0-19-861060-2.
- ^ "Al-Ahram Weekly | Living | What's in a name?". Archived from the original on 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
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