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Meaning
Usage
Pronunciation
Famous
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Rowena Tiempo Torrevillas is a Filipina poet, fiction writer and essayist.
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Rowena! The laughter and boundless imagination of childhood... I don't know why this beautiful name has been understood to mean something cruel and evil, seemingly for no reason. In my mind's eye, Rowena is a spirited red-haired girl frolicking amidst the English countryside, finding magic in the everyday and penning down thoughts and dreams to weave tales that will undoubtedly ensnare the hearts of anyone who will listen. As she roams the meadows and woodlands, she is accompanied by a menagerie of creatures who are drawn to her gentle spirit and kind heart, and she is somewhat of a mystery to the village children, her eyes glimmering with secrets untold. She will go home to share her tales of encounters with fairies and sprites, unicorns and dragons and all manner of magic and whimsy. Gentle and noble Rowena must be, and certainly not villainous.
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I'm surprised no one has mentioned Rowena Macleod from Supernatural.
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It’s OK but I find the consecutive “r” and “w” sounds difficult to say, unfortunately.
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Also used in Dutch: https://www.meertens.knaw.nl/nvb/populariteit/naam/Rowena
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Pretty name!
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Not of my favorites, but Rowena is an unusual, interesting name. Feels something off about it, but still okay.
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Low-key dated. Sounds mildly unattractive.
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I like it pronounced "Row-when-uh".
Rowena is a beautiful name.
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Rowena is a beautiful name.
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I think Rowena is a beautiful name and I always think of Rowena Ravenclaw. I associate it with strength, beauty and wisdom.
My sister's name is Rowenna (Row-WHEN-a) and she's not a fan of it. She's gone through life with her name mispronounced and made fun of, poor kid. She goes by Row usually and I call her Wen sometimes. We called her Wenna or Wennie as a baby. My sister is beautiful, she is petite with blonde hair and big brown eyes. Her name suits her because she is one of a kind. She has a huge heart and is a strong and caring woman. She loves animals, she would go out of her way to help almost anyone and she is confident and quick-witted.
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My sister's name is Rowenna (Row-WHEN-a) and she's not a fan of it. She's gone through life with her name mispronounced and made fun of, poor kid. She goes by Row usually and I call her Wen sometimes. We called her Wenna or Wennie as a baby. My sister is beautiful, she is petite with blonde hair and big brown eyes. Her name suits her because she is one of a kind. She has a huge heart and is a strong and caring woman. She loves animals, she would go out of her way to help almost anyone and she is confident and quick-witted.
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My name is Rowena and it is a beautiful name but people say it means something evil and cruel.
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I know a girl with this name, and she pronounces it "ro-WHEN-uh".
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I was wondering if it's possible for the "a" in Rowena to be silent? If so, then my name would be pronounced (Rowen).
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‘Rowena’ is Celtic (or Welsh), meaning: fair, slender, white haired/blonde. My parents chose it for me from Sir Walter Scott’s novel ‘Ivanhoe’ but it also fits me well, physically, since I am tall with a slender build and (naturally) blonde.
It is pronounced as this site states, the emphasis on the middle syllable and the ‘w’ is silent. I go by ‘Ro’ as a nickname, which I prefer for its anonymity (only one person has ever correctly guessed my true first name, others assume it is short for ‘Roberta’ and other more common names beginning with ‘Ro’).
I absolutely love the Urban Dictionary’s most popular meaning of ‘Rowena’! In fact, so much that I purchased a mug through the site with my name on one side and the ‘definition’ on the other. My favorite mug now. ;) Another meaning I have seen (much less often): ‘friendly’.
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It is pronounced as this site states, the emphasis on the middle syllable and the ‘w’ is silent. I go by ‘Ro’ as a nickname, which I prefer for its anonymity (only one person has ever correctly guessed my true first name, others assume it is short for ‘Roberta’ and other more common names beginning with ‘Ro’).
I absolutely love the Urban Dictionary’s most popular meaning of ‘Rowena’! In fact, so much that I purchased a mug through the site with my name on one side and the ‘definition’ on the other. My favorite mug now. ;) Another meaning I have seen (much less often): ‘friendly’.
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Another interpretation of Rowena is suggested to be taken from Old English Hröðwyn or from British ron 'spear, lance' + (g)wen 'bright'. However, those theories are based only on similarity of pronunciation.
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In my latest research into names given to baby girls in Manila (the capital of the Philippines) in 1977, Rowena was ranked 3rd in the top 300 (which you can see in my blog linked in my profile) with just over 1.1% of girls named Rowena. It was rarely used before the second half of the 20th century and during the mid 1950s, Rowena began to be more commonly used for girls. At some point, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, it may have ended up being the most popular female name in Manila - at its peak, it may have been given to around 2% of all girls.
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My name is Rowena. Pronounced "Row-EE-na".
I wasn't a huge fan of it when I was younger and my sisters called me Weena for years.
I was nicknamed Rowie (pronounced "Roh-wee) when I was born and personally I love this name.
It's unusual and nobody gets it right the first time but I don't know any other Rowena/ Rowie's!
I receive compliments on my name and people are always asking where it originates from.
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I wasn't a huge fan of it when I was younger and my sisters called me Weena for years.
I was nicknamed Rowie (pronounced "Roh-wee) when I was born and personally I love this name.
It's unusual and nobody gets it right the first time but I don't know any other Rowena/ Rowie's!
I receive compliments on my name and people are always asking where it originates from.
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The name Rowena was only given to 12 girls born in the US in 2015. It should be used more often!
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So beautiful. I imagine a queen or a noble woman when I hear this name. A pity it isn't used nowadays.
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I always used to like this name until I heard it pronounced. Ro-weena sounds like a pig oinking, frankly. Row-enna or even Ro-way-na would be much better.
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Rowena Ravenclaw.
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Possible Welsh Gaelic connection, from the name 'Rhonwen' thought to mean 'white mane' extrapolated from rhawn = horsehair, wyn = white.
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Various spellings from the twelfth century Historia regum Britanniae: Ronwen, Renwein and Romwenna.
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This is my middle name (I'm English, born early 80s) and I began using it as my main name almost a decade ago due to its beauty and mysterious historical origins. I pronounce it ro-WEN-na purely because it sounds more elegant than ro-WEE-na. Family and friends often shorten it to 'Row' (pronounced 'roe') for ease of use, though I'd rather they didn't as that totally eradicates the beauty of the sound.
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This name is so pretty. There's a beautiful place called Rowena Crest in Oregon, its incredible.
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Nennius apparently names the daughter of Hengest as Romwenna. At this level however the genealogies are much later fabrications (giving Saxon pedigrees to families which were originally British), and the only known Rom- names of the era are clear adaptations of Romanus and Romulus. E.A. Freeman (A History of the Norman Conquest) describes Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Rowena" as "a later absurdity".
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This name is really lovely, and I love the Ravenclaw connection. If I ever use this for a daughter, though, I might spell it Rowenna, so it would be pronounced ro-EN-na, which I find a bit more appealing.
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So the name 'Rowena' was chosen by my mother, who was reading Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe at the time. If you're thinking of naming you daughter this, consider these points carefully:
1. For much of highschool, my nickname was Weiner, or Weinder-dog. Charming.
2. It has the word 'Wee' in it.
3. My current nickname is 'Ravenclaw' from the Harry Potter novels.
4. People always spell it wrong.
If you still like the sound of the name, perhaps change the spelling, or just use a different nickname. I got 'Rena' which I didn't mind.
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1. For much of highschool, my nickname was Weiner, or Weinder-dog. Charming.
2. It has the word 'Wee' in it.
3. My current nickname is 'Ravenclaw' from the Harry Potter novels.
4. People always spell it wrong.
If you still like the sound of the name, perhaps change the spelling, or just use a different nickname. I got 'Rena' which I didn't mind.
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Rowena's beautiful! So much nicer and prettier than Rowan, in my opinion. It's gorgeous.
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I think this name is wonderful, I think it's really nice and feminine. Yes, a really nice name, one that would suit any age. :)
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English-born (in 1947) Australian actress Rowena Wallace.
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This name reminds me of Evil, Despair, Digression, and bad things happening. That's just me though.
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Wow. Well that's depressing. I personally love this name; I like many names that start with "R" (excluding Rachel). Like a previous user said, it sounds beautiful and mysterious, and, yes, a little dark as well. But still pretty.
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I always thought it was pronounced row-EN-nah. Ro-WEE-nah sounds really silly.
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In the Barbie in Fairytopia and Barbie in Mermaidia, Rowena was an evil person trying to poison everybody so they would bow down to her.
Also in Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses, there is the king's evil cousin named Rowena. Her title is Dutchess Rowena. The king can't handle his daughters so he calls Rowena for help. Rowena takes fun of the king's daughters. Rowena also poisons the king so everyone will bow down to her.
Rowena is a beautiful name, but everyone is using it for someone evil. I really like the name Rowena.
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Also in Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses, there is the king's evil cousin named Rowena. Her title is Dutchess Rowena. The king can't handle his daughters so he calls Rowena for help. Rowena takes fun of the king's daughters. Rowena also poisons the king so everyone will bow down to her.
Rowena is a beautiful name, but everyone is using it for someone evil. I really like the name Rowena.
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I like Rowena. If I get a daughter I will probably name her Rowena, and call her Rowan/Rowen. I think it's a tough name, and still very feminine.
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I love this name because it's uncommon and it sounds mysterious.
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I think most people on this website are American. Am I right? I guess that's why nobody has commented on the fact that the name includes the word 'wee' . Which is really quite off-putting especially if you're English.
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We Americans use that word too (usually redoubled, as is often the case with you, in my experience).
Just what word do you use for the first person plural nominative pronoun. Does the word "we" put you off too?
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Just what word do you use for the first person plural nominative pronoun. Does the word "we" put you off too?
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In Edgar Allan Poe's short story "Ligea", Rowena is the blond-haired, blue-eyed second wife of the narrator. That's where I encountered the name the first time, actually.
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I would pronounce it more like Row-EEN-a than Ro-WEE-na.
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Well this is my name, I love it, whenever people ask my name their response is always 'oh how lovely and rare'! It's fantastic!
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Rowena isn't a bad name at all, kind of pretty. I pronounce it ro-WEE-na.
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Often used as a feminine form of Rowan, although the names have no connection.
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Rowena in the Arthurian legends was the wife of King Vortigern. She was always said to be very beautiful and intelligent and defended her people when he sought them out to kill them.
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In JK Rowling's Harry Potter novels, Rowena Ravenclaw is one of the four founders of Hogwarts. Traditionally Ravenclaw students are marked by their intelligence.
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Rowena is the name of the Saxon princess whom Ivanhoe falls in love with in Sir Walter Scott's classic novel.
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I have heard it pronounced ro-WEN-a or ro-WENN-a.
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