Rowan Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Rowan is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Rowan?
Rowan is spelled R-O-W-A-N. The name has 5 letters.
Rowan at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Rowan commonly means “little red one,” derived from the Gaelic word for the rowan tree, known for its red berries.
- Origin
- Rowan may derive from Gaelic origins related to the rowan tree, which is native to parts of Europe and Asia.
- Pronunciation
- ROH-uhn · 2 syllables
Rowan Popularity in 2025
Rank#249
Recorded Births1,240
Rank#59
Recorded Births5,212
- Girls usage rose 17 places to #249 and recorded 42 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 12 places to #59 and recorded 545 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Rowan Mean?
Rowan commonly means “little red one,” derived from the Gaelic word for the rowan tree, known for its red berries.
Origin: Rowan may derive from Gaelic origins related to the rowan tree, which is native to parts of Europe and Asia.
How Do You Pronounce Rowan?
PronunciationROH-uhn
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Rowan?
- History
- The name Rowan has been used as both a given name and surname in English-speaking countries, with historical use documented in Celtic regions.
- Cultural notes
- The rowan tree is culturally associated with protection and warding off evil in various European folklore traditions.
Rowan Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,240 | #249 |
| 2025 | Boys | 5,212 | #59 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,198 | #266 |
| 2024 | Boys | 4,667 | #71 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,288 | #234 |
| 2023 | Boys | 4,215 | #76 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,139 | #276 |
| 2022 | Boys | 3,763 | #96 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,262 | #241 |
| 2021 | Boys | 3,648 | #105 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,179 | #255 |
| 2020 | Boys | 3,258 | #113 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,353 | #230 |
| 2019 | Boys | 3,223 | #118 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,459 | #211 |
| 2018 | Boys | 3,041 | #129 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,448 | #213 |
| 2017 | Boys | 2,847 | #140 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,351 | #239 |
| 2016 | Boys | 2,194 | #182 |
| 2015 | Girls | 989 | #331 |
| 2015 | Boys | 1,816 | #219 |
| 2014 | Girls | 774 | #413 |
| 2014 | Boys | 1,548 | #240 |
When Was Rowan Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
5,212 recorded births
National rank #59
2024 · Boys
4,667 recorded births
National rank #71
2023 · Boys
4,215 recorded births
National rank #76
2022 · Boys
3,763 recorded births
National rank #96
Where Rowan Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WY | #5 | 19 |
| CO | #22 | 160 |
| NH | #23 | 41 |
| ME | #23 | 31 |
| ND | #23 | 26 |
| UT | #25 | 108 |
| IA | #25 | 76 |
| VT | #25 | 13 |