The name Rowan has two meanings:
1. As a masculine name it comes from an Irish surname meaning "descendant of Ruadhán". The name Ruadhán is a Gaelic name meaning "little red one".
2. As a feminine name it is usually given in reference to the rowan tree (derived from the Old Norse word "raun" or "rogn").
Famous bearers
Bearers include William Rowan Hamilton (1805 - 1865), an Irish male mathematician, physicist, and astronomer;
Rowan Atkinson (born 1955), an English male comedian, actor, and writer;
Rowan Pelling (born 1968), an English female journalist and broadcaster.
