What Does the Name Rowan Mean?
Rowan is a unisex name of Irish origin meaning “little red one.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Rowan |
|---|---|
| Gender | unisex |
| Origin | Irish |
| Meaning | little red one |
| Variants | Ruadhan, Rowanne, Roan, Rowen |
| Popularity | Rising steadily in the US for both sexes since the 2000s; a top-200 name that is more common for boys but increasingly used for girls. |
The meaning and origin of Rowan
The name Rowan means “little red one” and has Irish origins. From the Irish name Ruadhan, a diminutive of ruadh ('red'), meaning 'little red one'; it also coincides with the English word for the rowan tree. Long a male name in Ireland, it is now widely used for both sexes.
Variants and related names
Rowan is related to several other names you may recognize: Ruadhan, Rowanne, Roan, Rowen. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Rowan?
Rising steadily in the US for both sexes since the 2000s; a top-200 name that is more common for boys but increasingly used for girls.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rowan mean?+
The name Rowan means “little red one” and is of Irish origin.
What is the origin of the name Rowan?+
Rowan originates from Irish.
Is Rowan a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Rowan has trended in the US over time.
Rowan by gender
More unisex names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press