Message: "Roan, Ronan, or Rowan?"

Roan, Ronan, or Rowan?

by whim

9/23/2015, 4:21 AM

Which name do you prefer? Why?

Roan is one syllable, and rhymes with Joan.

Thanks!

“She’s mad, but she’s magic. There’s no lie in her fire.” - Charles Bukowski

http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/147561
http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9852886

#Roan #Ronan #Rowan

Replies

- graceoak123 (guest)

10/7/2015, 1:06 AM

Rowan

- Luccca

9/28/2015, 5:34 AM

Rowan

- TheArtemisMoon +1

9/24/2015, 1:03 PM

Roan is ok but feels incomplete.
Ronan is the best of three. I like the look and sound.
Rowan is the one I like least. I don't know why but I always think of a chicken when I see this name.

- whim

9/24/2015, 3:35 PM

I don't really get the chicken association. Hm. Maybe it's because of the Ro- sound of Rhode Island Red? My knowledge of chickens is embarrassing sometimes...

I like Ronan the best after thinking about it as well.

Thanks!

- NobodyOfConsequence +1

9/24/2015, 3:20 AM

Definitely Ronan. I don't like the sound of the other two much at all.

- whim

9/24/2015, 3:28 PM

Thanks!

- Anneza, nsi (guest) +1

9/24/2015, 2:45 AM

Roan is far too horsey. Ronan ... I once knew a Rowan, very pleasant man, who named his son Ronan - I can't remember his wife's name, but I know it had an n in it somewhere, so Ronan was a merger and also the name of a former pupil of Rowan's who realy impressed him.

Myself, I like trees better than Irish names, so Rowan. But they're both good. Rowan is perhaps easier to pronounce.

- whim

9/24/2015, 3:10 AM

Yeah, I'm thinking Roan's a bit too horsey as well. I've removed it from my long list.

Rowan having a Ronan as a merged name with his wife is kind of cute. It's a bit close but they're not bad names.

Thank you!

- mirfak +1

9/23/2015, 4:25 PM

Rowan. It sounds manly and friendly and outdoorsy to me. Like Robin, but less cerebral somehow.

Ronan - I met a boy called this once. It was pronounced like roh-nun, which sounds a great deal like the word ronin as I say it. I don't see that as positive
Roan - very horsey and the -oan has the same effect on me as it does in Sloan. And in Mona. Bad word-sound associations. Groan, moan, Roan.

This message was edited 9/23/2015, 4:27 PM

- whim

9/23/2015, 5:13 PM

Oh. I forget about Robin sometimes. I use it as a girl's middle name more often than for a boy but it's really nice.

I pronounce Ronan as RO-nən, like how I'd pronounce ronin. I'm not familiar with the word ronin though. I'll have to check that out.

Thanks!

- araslanka +1

9/23/2015, 1:56 PM

Rowan - my favourite. Probably because I love the tree association? I also like that it really is equally usable on a boy or girl, a way few names are. The only thing I don't like about it is how popular it seems to be here. I'm friends with three Rowans (two male, one female) and also had two in my class in primary school (one boy, one girl).

Because of that, I love it as a middle name most of all, I think. One of my top combos at the moment is Mari Rowan.

Roan - second favourite, but I can only think of horses. Strawberry Roan, Blue Roan... maybe or may not be a bad thing. I can't decide.

Ronan - is possibly a nice name but forever spoiled for me by the most horrible Ronan I knew as a teenager.

- whim

9/23/2015, 5:11 PM

Bad associations are the worse. I have a few with really lovely names and it's just aggravating that I can't put them out of mind.

Thanks!

- kudriashkajo (jodirae) +1

9/23/2015, 11:49 AM

Rowan is my favourite. I love the tree association.
Not that you asked, but I don't really like Rohan or Rowen.

Ronan is also handsome. Good meaning too, I just like Rowan better.

Roan is okay. It doesn't grab me like the other two.

Again, not that you asked, but I really like Roman as well.

- whim

9/23/2015, 1:33 PM

Rohan and Rowen don't appeal to me so no worries there!

Roman is a nice enough name for someone else. It seems like a name I would like but I went to school with one who was a bit dopey and I can't shake that association.

Thanks!

- Myosotis +1

9/23/2015, 11:08 AM

Rowan's definitely my favourite. I like the nature connection, and it's got a nice, soft sound, but still a great name for a boy. Roan I think sounds like Rowan said wrong, and Ronan I'm just not a fan of.

- whim

9/23/2015, 1:39 PM

Rowan's soft sound is what appeals to me. Ronan isn't quite as soft but I don't mind that.

I can see how Roan might be mistaken for Rowan said wrong. It's something to consider while deciding which one to keep on my long list.

Thanks!

- xPrincess27x +1

9/23/2015, 10:54 AM

I prefer Rowan because it sounds nicer than Ronan. Also, Ronan makes me think of Ronan Keating. Roan does not look or sound attractive. It is as though it is missing a letter in the middle.

- whim

9/23/2015, 1:31 PM

I have no idea who Ronan Keating is and so I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. I'll be checking him out.

I can see what you mean about Roan looking incomplete.

Thanks!

- noel (glaucous) +1

9/23/2015, 10:50 AM

Roan - I think of the horse coloring.

Ronan - I think of Conan the Barbarian.

Rowan - I think of neo-paganism and it strikes me as sort of a fad name.

Out of those three, I'd go with Roan, but Rowan would be a close second.

This message was edited 9/23/2015, 10:54 AM

- whim

9/23/2015, 1:29 PM

That's a shocker! I didn't expect anyone to say anything positive about Roan.

I didn't associate Ronan with Conan but I can absolutely see how that's possible.

Thanks!

- Flora (booksandtea) +1

9/23/2015, 8:52 AM

When I hear Roan, I think of the coloring of a horse, since this is a type.

I love both Ronan & Rowan, though I prefer Rowan on a boy by far.

- whim

9/23/2015, 1:26 PM

I think roan colored horses when I hear Roan as well.

Thanks!

- LMS +1

9/23/2015, 8:36 AM

I like Ronan. It looks the strongest of the bunch. It doesn't have the current unisex trend as Rowan does. It doesn't have the mispronunciation issues of Roan.

- whim

9/23/2015, 1:26 PM

Good point. I suppose my putting the pronunciation of Roan in the post was the first sign that it might be an issue.

- Ew_Chloe (New_Chloe) +1

9/23/2015, 7:24 AM

Ronan. Cooler meaning, cooler vibe. I'd rather date a Ronan than a Roan or Rowan, I'd rather be friends with a Ronan. I'd rather have a Ronan on my side and I wouldn't want a Ronan for an enemy.

- whim

9/23/2015, 1:42 PM

That's something I had never taken the time to consider. Ronan does sound like he'd be a better friend or date than the other two. The name just seems wittier, more outgoing, and more spontaneous than Roan or Rowan.

- Delphi_Blue +1

9/23/2015, 6:00 AM

Definitely Rowan. I love the tree association.

Rohan always sounds like someone messing up Rowan to me (I know it's legit)
Roan just makes me think of groan. It also sounds kinda dated cause it rhymes with Joan.

So yeah. Rowan all the way.

- whim

9/23/2015, 1:24 PM

Yeah, my main issue with Roan is that it rhymes with Joan. But that's just because it's my niece's middle name.

I like the tree association with Rowan.

Not a fan of Rohan at all so no worries about that!

- Elena +1

9/23/2015, 5:22 AM

Definitely not Roan with one syllable. OTOH, I do like the other two and am leaning more towards Ronan. I like the way it looks, sounds and the meaning is more appealing to me than Rowan.

- whim

9/23/2015, 5:09 PM

I agree. I like the meaning of Ronan just a bit more than the meaning of Rowan.

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