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Home › Baby Names Directory › Rowena

Rowena

♀ Girl

Pronounced roh-EE-nə /roʊˈi.nə/High

Meaning: Possibly from Germanic elements hrod, 'fame', and wunn, 'joy, bliss'; the name of a legendary Saxon princess, revived by Walter Scott's IvanhoeLow

In 30 seconds: A name from the mists of legend: Rowena was the Saxon beauty of medieval chronicles, revived by Ivanhoe and enrolled at Hogwarts. Possibly 'fame and joy' — definitely dramatic.
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Origin MediumGermanic, Literary
MeaningPossibly from Germanic elements hrod, 'fame', and wunn, 'joy, bliss'; the name of a legendary Saxon princess, revived by Walter Scott's Ivanhoe
U.S. rank (2025)#4441 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births32 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1917
Total births (all-time)≈ 10,523

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191718802025

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

Rowena first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's medieval chronicles as the beautiful daughter of the Saxon leader Hengist, whose marriage to King Vortigern let the Saxons into Britain. Its etymology is uncertain — possibly Germanic hrod + wunn, 'fame' and 'joy', possibly a Latinized Welsh name. Walter Scott's Ivanhoe (1819) revived it for the Victorian age.

J. K. Rowling enrolled it permanently in pop culture through Rowena Ravenclaw. American use has always been rare; the name reads as romantic, learned, and faintly castle-haunted — with Row and Wren-adjacent sounds keeping it current.

Did you know? Rowena Ravenclaw, founder of Hogwarts' cleverest house, gave this twelfth-century legend's name to a whole new generation of readers.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name — Rowena — etymology, debated

Variations

RowennaRhonwen

Nicknames

RowRowieWena

Famous Bearers

  • ★Rowena King (1970-)
    British actress known for Shut Eye and Of Kings and Prophets

If you like Rowena…

Rosalind— a fellow literary revival with Shakespearean glamour
Gwendolyn— another medieval-romantic British name
Renesmee— shares Rowena's Literary roots
Rosaline— another Germanic name
Emerson— another Germanic name

Explore names like Rowena

By themeliterarymedievallegendary
By meaningRoyal / NobleJoy

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rowena mean?

Rowena possibly comes from Germanic elements meaning 'fame' and 'joy', though its origin is debated; it belongs to a legendary Saxon princess.

How do you pronounce Rowena?

It's said roh-EE-nə /roʊˈi.nə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Rowena a boy or girl name?

Rowena is a girl's name.

How popular is Rowena?

Rowena is a rare name in the U.S., a literary gem awaiting rediscovery.

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