Rowan?

What do you all think about [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] these days? [name_m]Way[/name_m] too popular? I fully associate this with boys, but do you think it’s on its way to being considered a girls’ name?

We’re expecting baby #5 in [name_f]April[/name_f] and I’m really loving the softness, the energy, the nature connection, and the Gaelic roots. I usually don’t go for popular names at all, but this one got me!

I posted a few weeks ago, but now we know it’s a boy! His sisters are [name_u]Sage[/name_u], [name_f]Lotus[/name_f], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], and [name_f]Fianna[/name_f] if anyone wants to throw out a few names that you think might fit our tribe!

A few names I love but are shot down by husband, are too popular, or just don’t feel right for this baby:

[name_u]Sunny[/name_u]
[name_u]Kieran[/name_u]/Ciaran
[name_u]Aiden[/name_u]
[name_u]Liam[/name_u]
[name_f]Jade[/name_f] (I know this is used mostly for girls but to me it’s lovely for a boy!)
[name_m]Nakoa[/name_m] (I love everything about this name, but we have no ties to Hawaiian culture or history.)

I’ve known one male and one female [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]. I think the name is pretty close to truly unisex at this point, but personally prefer it on boys and don’t think it’ll be “taken over” as a “girls name” anytime soon honestly. I also don’t think it’s too popular, at least in my area it’s a recognizable name but I don’t hear it all that often. I totally love the name and think it’s a wonderful choice!

If you’re not feeling it though, here are a few similar names you may also like (mostly sound alike or nature):

  • Roman
  • Ronan
  • Rome
  • Roland
  • River
  • Logan
  • Alder
  • Aspen
  • Aster/Astor
  • Heath
  • Brooks
  • Kellen
  • Reed
  • Cedar
  • Eddy (could be short for something)
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I do really like [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]. It’s soft and gentle!

Cedar, [name_u]Bodhi[/name_u], [name_u]Cove[/name_u], [name_m]Reef[/name_m] and [name_u]Ari[/name_u] came to mind

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I really love this name!

I’ve never met a [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], so it’s hard for me to see it as popular! But I know the #s in the US, so people must be using the name somewhere!

I don’t know if it will become a girl name… I assume you mean how names like [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u], [name_u]Shannon[/name_u], and [name_u]Leslie[/name_u] were common boy names and now mostly seen as a girl name. [name_m]Even[/name_m] with the internet, I think it’s hard to predict when this will happen.

I see [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] as a solid unisex name. It works well for both!

Other namea that have similar meaning to [name_m]Nakoa[/name_m] -

Brian
[name_m]Conell[/name_m]
[name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
[name_u]Gabriel[/name_u]

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I knew two brothers called [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] and [name_u]Brook[/name_u]. Really love the name [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]

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Love love love [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]! I only know one little boy with the middle name [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], so it’s not super popular where I live. I don’t think he’ll be one of 10 [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]’s in his class, even though it is being used more. [name_m]Ronan[/name_m] is also a great name and is similar, but even less common. It doesn’t really have a nature connection, but it means [name_m]Little[/name_m] [name_m]Seal[/name_m] which is adorable.

It’s unfortunate that [name_f]Jade[/name_f] was vetoed. I know a guy named [name_f]Jade[/name_f] and it fits him SO well. I love it for both genders.

Suggestions:
[name_u]Cedar[/name_u]
[name_u]Hunter[/name_u]
[name_m]Xavier[/name_m]
[name_u]Shiloh[/name_u]
[name_u]Asher[/name_u]
[name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]
[name_m]Carver[/name_m]
[name_u]Bennett[/name_u]
[name_u]Parker[/name_u]
[name_m]Quinton[/name_m]
[name_m]Graham[/name_m]
[name_m]Creed[/name_m]
[name_m]Dalton[/name_m]
[name_u]Maverick[/name_u]
[name_u]Brighton[/name_u]
[name_m]Joel[/name_m]
[name_u]Jules[/name_u]
[name_u]Chase[/name_u]
[name_u]Chance[/name_u]
[name_m]Forrester[/name_m]
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]

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I really love [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u] off of this list. I’m feeling a super soft energy from this baby and I think I need to find a soft name! The last name is [name_m]Sheehan[/name_m] though. [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u] [name_m]Sheehan[/name_m] is a mouthful, right? [name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] [name_m]Sheehan[/name_m] is a little too alliterative for me but I think it’s ok.

Strangely the only [name_u]Rowan[/name_u](s) I’ve seen in [name_f]English[/name_f] schools have been male, never female.

I prefer it on boys anyway.

Edit: just checked the name stats. Still a boys name here in [name_f]England[/name_f] purely by the stat numbers.

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My 2-year-old son is [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] and we have loved the name! We call him Rowie and when he first started talking he called himself “[name_f]Ro[/name_f] [name_f]Ro[/name_f]”, which was adorable. We haven’t met any other [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]’s yet (even though I know it’s getting more popular). I had a hard time choosing it but have been so happy we did! Good luck!

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The name [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] has got too popular for me now unfortunately and this has taken the shine off it now I know so many - have a google and look at the popularity graphs and you can see straight away the massive shift in popularity over the past few years which is only set to continue given the trajectory. It’s the sort of name where if you haven’t met a baby [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] yet, you will soon.
I know a few baby girl Rowans and the fact the popularity has risen fast for girls (as well as boys) makes me think it’ll reach a tipping point soon and the name will transition to be regarded as a girls name, as has happened in the past with names like [name_u]Kelly[/name_u] and [name_u]Hilary[/name_u]. I know it’s currently seen as unisex but sadly the way of the world that “boys” names on girls are cool but “girls” names on boys are practically illegal

The massive upsurge in popularity of extremely similar [name_f]Ro[/name_f]… names like [name_m]Roman[/name_m] would also put me off because there’s a tranche of so many very similar names getting very trendy all at the same time so the name feels even more popular than it actually is. Roman is now looking set to enter the top 50 names by the time the next set of statistics are released. The names have a different feel but sound very similar especially if you end up with a few Roman and Rowan’s in the same class

Your other children’s names are gorgeous by the way

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I love [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]! He’s probably my favorite boys’ name right now; I am so in love with him. I imagine a little [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] to have adventures in the forest down the street, [name_u]Robin[/name_u] Hood one day and and a pirate the next, a mighty little hero with a big heart. On rainy days his favorite room is the library, and he’ll hide under the coffee table with his new favorite book, his mind a million miles away. In my mind, [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] is kind and respectful, has the most impressive imagination you can imagine, his world full of stories and adventures. One day, he’ll grow up to be a pastor, a teacher, or a soldier. It would be a dream come true to have a little [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] of my own one day. :heart:

With the exception of maybe [name_u]Sage[/name_u], your girls have pretty girly names, so I think [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] would fit in perfectly with your kiddos! :heart: [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] is also super handsome. If you like [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m], [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_u]Aidan[/name_u], and [name_u]Liam[/name_u], have you considered [name_u]Declan[/name_u] or [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m]? I think either would fit in really well with your kiddos!

Good luck!

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Your children’s names are all lovely! I have major name envy.
I wouldn’t use [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] though. Sadly the name RoWan is getting extremely popular now and too many girls have this name for me to risk giving it to a son. You need to add up all the male and female Rowans together to get a true picture of where the name currently sits in the name charts. The rise in recent usage is huge. Plus there’s SO MANY RoMans with an M these days and all these similar names muddle me up. A few years ago wouldn’t have been a problem. Multiple [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_m]Roman[/name_m] etc type names at our local baby group. A bit bored of hearing it now to be honest. When there’s so many lovely names to pick from and given that popularity is a concern for you, I’d pick something else

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I doubt [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] will completely “go to the girls” - at least in the US it’s leveling off for girls while still rising and used about twice as often for boys.

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Yes will be interesting to see what happens if the name transitions to a girl name or remains unisex. Now the name has been approaching the top 200 for girls in the US for a couple of years or so, I suppose there could be a knock on, trickle down effect in a few years where people become aware of too many female rowans and stop using it for boys. Who knows what the tipping point is, shall wait and see.

Funnily enough the name [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] is regarded almost exclusively as a girl name in places like [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] where it is rising up the top 100 list for girls there but does not feature in the top 100 boy list at all and never has. Interesting

I see [name_m]Roman[/name_m] with M continues to rise fast for boys. The name has historically stayed outside the top 500 names until the fast few years where it’s now top 70! It’s booming!

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