Roan

♀ Girl

Pronounced ROHN /ˈroʊn/High

Meaning: Variously 'little red one; red-haired' (Irish, from Ruadhan) and 'a rowan tree' (English nature-name); used for both sexes (leans male); here for girls; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Little red one; a rowan tree: Roan is Irish/English. Crisp, modern, and warm. Used for both sexes (here for girls; said 'ROHN').

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Origin LowIrish, English

MeaningVariously 'little red one; red-haired' (Irish, from Ruadhan) and 'a rowan tree' (English nature-name); used for both sexes (leans male); here for girls; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#4530 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births31 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 285

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Roan comes variously from 'little red one; red-haired' (Irish, from Ruadhan) and 'a rowan tree' (English nature-name; routes layered, which we note). Used for both sexes (it leans male), here for girls (slug distinguished; said 'ROHN').

In the U.S. it leans male. Rare for girls, little-red-one-and-a-rowan-tree at the root, and modern.

Did you know? Roan is variously 'little red one; red-haired' (Irish, from Ruadhan) and 'a rowan tree' (English) — a crisp, modern name, used for both sexes (leans male; here for girls; the routes are layered, which we note; said 'ROHN').

Overall data confidence 36%

References — Roan — unisex; routes layered

Variations

RowanRoaneRhoan

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Roan…

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Sloane— a companion unisex one-syllable name

Quinn— another unisex one-syllable name

Rylan— echoes that soft -an sound

Joan— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Roan

By themeuncertain english unisex irish nature-name

By meaningEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Roan mean?

Roan is variously 'little red one' (Irish) and 'a rowan tree' (English); the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Roan?

It's said ROHN /ˈroʊn/ — one syllable.

Is Roan a boy or girl name?

Roan is used for both sexes (it leans male); this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Roan?

Roan is rare for girls in the U.S.