I don’t mean to start up another one of those threads, but I personally am of the view that place and nature names should be, by and large, gender neutral.
The [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] tree is a tree that in [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] during the Victorian era used to be believed to have the power to ward off witches, and thus people would plant them outside their houses. I like that the name has a somewhat quirky history, and to me, it symbolises protection - which I think is a lovely reason to use it, whether on a boy or a girl.
However, I know no amount of justifying my opinion will change the minds of a few people on here…so I’ll just go for the plunge. [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] on a girl. Thoughts?
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u] to me is one of the few names that is completely unisex- I can imagine it on both a boy and a girl equally. I know both boys and girls named [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]. I personally prefer it just a little more on a boy (more due to the fact that there are very few names I like on boys and a surplus of names I like on girls) but I think it fits a girl just as well.
There’s a user here on NB with a daughter called [name_u]Rowan[/name_u].
I think it’s a fantastic name–it feels wise and nature-y in a totally non-hippie way (not that there’s anything wrong with that.) Personally, I like it much, much better on girls–there’s something subtly feminine about the -owa- part that makes it difficult for me to imagine it on a boy.
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u] sounds great on a boy or girl to me, I see no reason why it could not be used on a girl. [name_f]Rowena[/name_f] would also sound nice on a girl and be a little more feminine.
I think [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] is lovely on a boy or a girl. It’s a beautifully unisex name that feels strong and magical and naturey. I say go for it!
I looked up the SSA stats and am surprised that it’s still used more on boys than girls (in the US) about 1/3 girls and 2/3 boys. But I agree that it is a very unisex name. Personally, the first thing that comes to mind when I hear “[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]” is the yarn company.
I agree with a PP that this is a name, that to me, feels truly unisex. That said, I do prefer it on a girl. I know two [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]'s [name_m]IRL[/name_m]; one girl, one boy.
Normally I am not a fan of unisex names because they always feel like boys’ names on girls but [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] feels genuinely unisex to me. I would only ever use it on a girl because that is my personal preference and I think it is a beautiful name for a girl. I know people often say ‘it is all boy and not a girls’ name’ but it is a tree. The name of a tree can’t be male or female. I think it is only whether people feel the sound of the name is masculine or feminine that can decide what gender they prefer it on - if that makes sense?
Personally I think [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] is a very sweet name for a girl. I don’t mind unisex names. I’m actually surprised they’re so reviled on Nameberry.
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u] is one of the few names that I don’t mind on either gender, actually (The others being [name_u]Morgan[/name_u], [name_u]Finley[/name_u], [name_u]Peyton[/name_u] & [name_u]Avery[/name_u]). I’d be fine meeting a little girl named [name_u]Rowan[/name_u].
I don’t like [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] on a girl. Yes, a lot of nature names are unisex but are not necessarily unisex in usage. Nobody is rushing to name their son [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]. With some nature names you just have to go with your gut. To me [name_f]Jade[/name_f] feels masculine and unattractive on girls but most disagree. I feel the same way about [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]- it’s manly and I don’t see the appeal for girls
I agree. [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] could totally work on a girl or boy.
I do think that some nature names however feel more masculine or feminine to me. Ex: [name_u]Yarrow[/name_u] = all male to me while [name_f]Wisteria[/name_f] is all female.
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u] is one of my favorite favorite names. But in my head, it’s always been on my boy list. So when I found out I was having a girl, I tried to imagine using [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] for her, but I just can’t make the mental switch. I do have a childhood friend who named her daughter [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] and it actually doesn’t bother me, I just prefer it for a boy if I had to choose.
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u] is one of my very favorite names for a girl, but I also find it nice on a boy. It’s roots are actually unisex, as most nature names are! It’s a great name!
