Rowan is a unisex name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Rowan means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Rowan across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Rowan has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Rowan is a unisex name of Irish (Gaelic) origin meaning “little red one or rowan tree”. From the Irish name Ruadhan, also linked to the tree.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 72,853 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 17,094 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 2,286 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 442 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 1,063 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 Rowan per year, United States (1916 to 2025). United States peaked in 2025 (6,452/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2025 (1,494/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2025 (133/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2025 (94/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2024 (50/yr).
Rowan has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 2025, when it ranked #61 nationally (given to 8,173 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 2020s.
Ryan · Ron · Rowen · Rowena · Rayan · Rowyn · Rona
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