UK name, mostly boys
Rowen
An English unisex name derived from the Old English words for "roughish" or "rowan tree".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 232 girls.
Rowen is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Rowen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #757, with 45 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 45 births.
This profile covers 364 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Rowen is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 378 living people in the UK are called Rowen. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rowen ranked #757 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 45 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 45 boys were registered as Rowen.
- • Rowen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #619 in 2024.
- • Rowen is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 378 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rowen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 61.1% of Rowen registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#757
2024
Births in 2024
45
Latest year
Peak year
2024
45 births
Estimated living
378
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Rowen
In England and Wales birth records, Rowen has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 61.1% of registrations are for boys and 38.9% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Rowen registered for boys
- Ranked #757 in 2024
- 45 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (45 births)
Rowen registered for girls
- Ranked #4,192 in 2024
- 5 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2005 (16 births)
Meaning
What does Rowen mean?
The name Rowen is believed to have originated from the Welsh language, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variant of the name Rhon, which means "speckled" or "brown."
In ancient Welsh poetry and literature, the name Rowen was often associated with the natural world, particularly with trees and forests. This connection may have stemmed from the name's resemblance to the word "rowan," which refers to a species of tree known for its vibrant red berries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rowen can be found in the Welsh Triads, a collection of traditional stories and legends from the 13th century. In these tales, Rowen ap Gwalchmai is mentioned as a renowned warrior and member of King Arthur's court.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rowen. In the late 16th century, Rowen Griffith was a prominent Welsh scholar and translator who played a significant role in preserving and promoting the Welsh language.
In the 18th century, Rowen Williams was a Welsh writer and poet known for his works celebrating the beauty of the Welsh countryside. He was born in 1719 and lived until 1788.
Moving into the 20th century, Rowen Sexton was an acclaimed Australian artist and painter, known for her vivid landscapes and portraits. She was born in 1901 and passed away in 1977.
Another notable figure with the name Rowen was Rowen Jacobsen, an American author and journalist who wrote extensively on food and agriculture. He was born in 1958 and has published several books on sustainable farming practices.
In more recent times, Rowen Blanchard is an American actress and activist who gained recognition for her role in the Disney Channel series "Girl Meets World." She was born in 2001 and has been lauded for her advocacy work on various social and environmental issues.
While the name Rowen may have originated from humble beginnings, it has grown to hold a rich cultural legacy, with a diverse range of individuals contributing to its historical significance across various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rowen over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Rowen in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rowen, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 45 births in 2024, compared with 45 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rowen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rowen was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1034 | 157 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1735 | 141 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2545 | 50 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2429 | 16 | 4 |
Geography
Where Rowen is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rowen. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Rowen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #619 in 2024.
Across the UK
Rowen in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#619 in 2024
5 years of NRS records, 16 total registered
Related
Names similar to Rowen
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rowen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rowen in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rowen was ranked #757 for boys in England and Wales, with 45 births registered.
When was Rowen most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 45 babies registered as Rowen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rowen?
An English unisex name derived from the Old English words for "roughish" or "rowan tree".
How many people are called Rowen in the UK?
A total of 364 babies have been registered as Rowen across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 16 more in Scotland.
Where is Rowen most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Rowen ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #619 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.