Roan is a boy name with a rare feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Roan means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Roan across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Roan has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Roan is a boy name of Irish (Gaelic)/English origin meaning “little redhead, or roan color”. Linked to the Irish Ronan or the reddish-brown horse color.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 3,019 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 858 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 249 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 86 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 289 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Roan per year, United States (1926 to 2025). United States peaked in 2025 (180/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2006 (61/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2006 (25/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2008 (24/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2020 (8/yr).
Roan is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2025, when it ranked #2,371 nationally (given to 226 babies that year).
Ryan · Rowan · Ronnie · Ron · Ronny · Rowen · Rowena · Roni
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