The name Rowan is of Irish and Scottish origin, meaning "little red-haired one." It is derived from the Gaelic word "ruadh," which means red or reddish. The name is also associated with the rowan tree, a species of mountain ash known for its white flowers and bright red berries. In Celtic mythology, the rowan tree was believed to have magical properties and was often planted near homes to protect against evil spirits.
The name Rowan has been used in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, but it gained popularity in England during the Victorian era. Today, Rowan is a popular unisex name in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Some famous people with the name Rowan include actors Rowan Atkinson and Rowan Blanchard, as well as British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott's ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
In summary, Rowan is an Irish and Scottish name that means "little red-haired one." It has a long history and is associated with the rowan tree and Celtic mythology. Today, it is a popular unisex name in many English-speaking countries.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe the trends of the name Rowan over time in the United States from 1916 to 2023.
In the early years, from 1916 to around 1950, the number of births with the name Rowan remained relatively low and steady. There were fewer than 15 births per year during this period, except for a few peaks such as 16 births in 1964.
Starting from the late 1970s, there was a noticeable increase in the popularity of the name Rowan. In 1981, there were 20 births, and this number continued to grow steadily over time. By the mid-1990s, the number of births with the name Rowan had reached triple digits, with 53 births in 1994.
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a significant surge in popularity for the name Rowan. In just seven years, from 1999 to 2005, the number of births increased more than threefold, from 143 births in 1999 to 673 births in 2005.
This trend continued into the 2010s and 2020s. By 2022, there were over 3750 births with the name Rowan, marking a tremendous increase from previous decades. Looking at the most recent data from 2023, the number of births has reached an all-time high of over 4195.
In conclusion, while the name Rowan was relatively uncommon in the early to mid-20th century, it gained significant popularity starting in the late 1970s and surged in recent decades. Based on these statistics, Rowan is now one of the most popular names for newborns in the United States.