Baby Names

Has Rowan gone to the girls?

My husband and I both really like this name. To me it is SO masculine so I was surprised to see its used for girls once I started looking into it.

So, when you hear this name do you think boy or girl? How many boy or girl Rowan's do you know? Do you think using it for girls is a passing trend or here to stay (and surpass boy usage?)

I'm really torn because its finally a name we both love but I don't really want my son to have girls in his class with the same name as him.

Thanks!

Re: Has Rowan gone to the girls?

  • I don't see it as feminine. I think Rowena is. I say go ahead!
  • I think boy and I like the name! It's a masculine name.
      image

     

    image 



  • Loading the player...
  • There are two boy Rowans at the high school where I teach, so even though I know there are plenty of people trying to steal it for girls, it is still firmly in my mind as a boy name.
  • While it's use for girls has gone up, It is still used more as a masculine name by the numbers.

    Last year 770 misguided parents named their daughters Rowan, but 1,531 not-stupid parents named their sons Rowan. 

    The numbers are still on your side. Use it!
  • I don't think so.
  • I have never met a Rowan or even heard of a Rowan personally. But it sounds like a boy name to me.
  • I think of a girl despite the actor Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean).

    August '18 April Siggy Challenge: April Showers





                                                              Lilypie Maternity tickers
                                                                                           

    Pregnancy Ticker
  • I think boy and I like the name! It's a masculine name.

    This. Use it!
    DD: Ophelia 5/18/15
  • I immediately think boy.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • I know two girls named Rowan and one boy. I have never much liked the name, but when I hear it I don't necessarily think that a boy got a girls name or vice versa.

    This might be another one of those regional things where in one area it is mostly girls and in the other it is mostly boys.
  • Definitely masculine.
  • It still rings boy to my ear. I know one girl named Rowan but that trend is pervasive in our area.

    I really like Rowan and the similar sounding Ronan.
    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • IRL the only Rowan I know is a boy (4ish) but I did have a favorite middle school book called Rowan Hood about the "outlaw girl of Sherwood Forrest" so it could go either way. Masculine sounding but very "gender neutral" at the moment.

    If you don't want there to be a chance of a girl in his class with the same name, I'd pick something different, but I think it's a masculine enough name that he shouldn't be embarrassed - like Ryans and James'.
    Anniversary 
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I think it's more masculine than feminine, though I do know girl Rowans. It seems to be favored for girls when the parents want a boy name (like Ryan, Charlie, etc). I'm a Courtney and there were a few boy Courtneys in my classes growing up...they didn't seem to mind.
    BabyFruit Ticker


  • I think boy. I knew a Roan in high school. 
  • I think boy. I don't know anyone who has named their daughter Rowan, though I do know one Rowena. I think you are pretty safe.
  • I agree with you about it being ultra masculine, but I know too many girls with the name to not be confused about it as well. H and I thought about it but were leaning more towards Ronan.
    Feb '16 October Siggy Challenge: Favorite Candy


  • That was in our top 5. For a boy. It's usually a boy's name.
  • Female popularity may go up with Rowan Blanchard (Disney -Girl Meets World) but I still think it is more masculine.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • Rowena is what I consider the feminine form of this name. Rowan I think of as masculine.
  • A few people using it on girls doesn't make it less masculine. It's not super popular in general but it's still more popular for boys. Love it and would always assume male upon seeing or hearing it. Just like I would wit Elliott, Ryan, Carter, etc.


  • I know two women named Rowan (one might spell it Rowen, not sure) and one boy named rowan. Probably because of that, it doesn't scream masculine or feminine to me. 
    imageimage

    image

  • In your son's up and coming generation it will predominantly be used on girls. Much like Casey in the 80's. So if it doesn't bother you then go for it, but chances are that he will come across a few women with the same name as him in his lifetime.
  • I know a 2 year old girl named Rowan.
  • The only Rowan I've ever heard was on a TV show and was a girl! With that being said, we were considering it for a girls name.
  • I knew a Rowan in Jr. High and Highschool.. It was a girl. Very strange person all around, so whenever I hear that name I think of her.

    <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Trying to Conceive"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1c9357.aspx" alt=" Trying to Conceive Ticker" border="0"  /></a>

  • Rowan reminds me of Rowan County, Kentucky and that lunatic County Clerk.

    Never knew anyone actually named Rowan.

  • I've never met a Rowan in person, but I still think boy when I hear it.
    LFAF Awards
                       

    me: 27 | husband: 35
    IR PCOS  dx Sept. 2014

    married May 2015 --> started NTNP
    BFP 6.28.15 - EDD 3.6.16 
    baby #1 born 2.19.16 

    TTC #2 in April 2017
    BFP 12.30.17 - EDD 9.6.18


       Fertility Friend Chart
  • I think of a boy.
  • It can be used for either, but I think the split is about 70 male/ 30 female according to the names app I have. It's on our list for boy names. I actually like it for a girl as well, but DH is not a fan.
    image
  • Thanks for your input and experiences everyone! One week until due date and I think we are going to keep Rowan as the top contender for a boy. We're thinking there will be lots of boys and girls sharing the same name in this upcoming generation. It probably won't be a big deal. As long as it hasn't completely crossed over, I think I am good with it!
  • I've only ever heard Rowan as a last name, never met anyone with it as a first name.
    But My first thought would be boy
  • It's totally unisex to me. I like the name a lot!
  • I've only met one Rowan, and it was a girl. But there was a good reason behind it - she's my botany teachers daughter and my prof loves Rowans/Mountain-Ashes (a type of tree). She told us that she considers them to be one of her favourite plants. Plus, Rowans are fantastic for bird-watching around here.

    Overall, I still consider it a boys name. But I don't mind it on girls. It's a really neat name with tons of mythology and whatnot behind it.
  • In your son's up and coming generation it will predominantly be used on girls. Much like Casey in the 80's. So if it doesn't bother you then go for it, but chances are that he will come across a few women with the same name as him in his lifetime.
    Used on girls to some extent, yes. Majority girl, odds are no since it's going up faster for boys.
  • KStar21 said:
    In your son's up and coming generation it will predominantly be used on girls. Much like Casey in the 80's. So if it doesn't bother you then go for it, but chances are that he will come across a few women with the same name as him in his lifetime.
    Used on girls to some extent, yes. Majority girl, odds are no since it's going up faster for boys.


    I agree it's not currently trending to any extend that it will go girl.  Rowan is not the next Ashley or Lyndsey.  Those belong to sadly Avery and Riley.


  • I know four little girls with the name, and zero little boys. So if I personally heard the name, I would assume it was a girl. 
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic 
  • My nephew's name is Rowen (my brother regrets the spelling to this day) and it really suits him. I really love it as a boys name.
  • I think boy. Cute name!
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"