Rohan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rohan has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rohan

A masculine Sanskrit name meaning "ascending" or "upward".

Popularity of Rohan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Rohan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Rohan being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 291 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Rohan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Rohan in 2024, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

YearMale CountFemale Count
20242915
20232950
20223030
20213060
20202898
20193157
20183438
20173730
20163270
20153875
20144140
20134230
20124176
20114350
20104780
20095000
20085030
20075115
20064920
20054935
20045220
20034860
20024370
20013050
20003030
19992890
19981950
19971740
19961560
19951360
19941040
19931040
1992800
1991860
1990880
1989580
1988550
1987520
1986380
1985380
1984150
1983190
1982210
1981240
1980230
1979130
1978100
1977120
197650
197580

The history of the first name Rohan

The name Rohan has its origins in the Sanskrit language, an ancient Indo-Aryan tongue that dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "rohana," which means "ascending" or "rising." This could suggest a connection to the rising sun or rising to greatness. The name was prominent in ancient India and can be found in various Hindu texts and scriptures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rohan is in the Mahabharata, a renowned Sanskrit epic that is a significant part of Hindu mythology. The epic features a character named Rohan, who was a prince from the kingdom of Kashi (modern-day Varanasi). This suggests that the name was in use in ancient India as early as the 8th or 9th century BCE, when the Mahabharata is believed to have been composed.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rohan. One of the most famous was Rohan Kanhai, a West Indian cricketer who played for the West Indies cricket team from 1957 to 1975. He was born in 1935 in British Guiana (now Guyana) and was known for his impressive batting skills and captaincy.

Another historical figure with the name Rohan was Rohan Gavaskar, an Indian cricketer and the son of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. Rohan played for the Indian national team in the 1990s and was a talented opening batsman. He was born in 1976 and retired from international cricket in 2004.

In the field of literature, Rohan Dhawan was an Indian writer and poet who gained recognition for his works in both English and Hindi. He was born in 1948 and published several collections of poetry and novels, including "The Burnt Offering" and "The Chowringhee Poems." Dhawan passed away in 2021.

Another notable individual with the name Rohan was Rohan Bopanna, an Indian professional tennis player. Born in 1980, Bopanna has achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions, and he has represented India in numerous international tournaments, including the Olympics.

Lastly, Rohan Marley, the son of legendary Jamaican reggae artist Bob Marley, is another well-known figure with the name Rohan. Born in 1972, Rohan Marley is a former football player and entrepreneur who has been involved in various business ventures, including the House of Marley audio electronics company.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Rohan, showcasing its enduring presence across various cultures and fields.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rohan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rohan, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

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