Rowana
A feminine name meaning "little redhead" or "little red one".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Rowana. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Rowana today is around 73 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rowana births was 1921 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rowana. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Rowana is about 73 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Rowanas were born before 1963.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Rowana. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1921
5 babies that year
Average age
73
years old
1957 SSA rank
#6,851
Tracked since 1921
Popularity
Rowana: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rowana from the 1920s through to the 1950s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 10 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rowana by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Rowana during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Rowana
The name Rowana is of uncertain origin, but it is believed to have emerged from the Gaelic language spoken in Ireland and Scotland. Some scholars trace its roots back to the Gaelic word "ruadh," meaning red or auburn-haired, while others suggest it may be derived from the Gaelic term "rua," meaning champion or hero.
In ancient Celtic mythology, there are references to a warrior princess named Rowana, who was renowned for her fiery red hair and fierce battle prowess. This legendary figure may have influenced the popularization of the name in the region. Alternatively, the name could have been inspired by the reddish-brown hue of certain types of trees, such as the rowan or mountain ash, which held significant symbolic meaning in Celtic culture.
The earliest recorded use of the name Rowana dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in medieval Scottish and Irish records. It was particularly common among noble families and clans in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, as well as in parts of Ireland.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Rowana was Rowana of Garmoran (c. 1150-1220), a Scottish noblewoman and chieftain who played a pivotal role in clan politics and territorial disputes during the 12th century. She was renowned for her leadership and strategic prowess in defending her clan's lands against rival clans.
Another prominent individual named Rowana was Rowana MacLeod (c. 1320-1380), a Scottish warrior and clan chief from the Isle of Skye. She was celebrated for her bravery in leading her clan's forces against Norse invaders and securing the clan's independence.
In the realm of literature, the name Rowana appears in the 16th-century Scottish ballad "The Lament of Rowana," which recounts the tragic tale of a young woman named Rowana who was betrayed by her lover.
In the 19th century, Rowana Kilbride (1835-1912) was an Irish writer and poet who gained acclaim for her lyrical works celebrating Irish folklore and the natural beauty of her homeland.
More recently, Rowana Abbensetts (1930-2005) was a renowned Australian environmentalist and conservationist, known for her efforts to protect endangered species and raise awareness about the importance of preserving fragile ecosystems.
While the name Rowana has ancient roots and historical significance, it remains a relatively uncommon name in modern times, particularly outside of certain regions where it has stronger cultural connections.
People
Rowana + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rowana as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rowana: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rowana?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rowana going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Rowana a common name?
We classify Rowana as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rowana most popular?
The single biggest year for Rowana was 1921, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rowana is about 73 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Rowana in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Rowana a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rowana in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Rowana still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Rowana in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Rowana can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Rowana?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.