Rowena Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rowena is an Old English name meaning 'famous joy', evolving from Hrothwyn in the Old English period through Middle English to its current form. It is associated with literary heritage, particularly through Sir Walter Scott's works, and carries a vintage yet elegant image today. Rowena has no direct biblical relevance.
The name Rowena is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Rowena has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Rowena' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 515th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 593rd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 919th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1598th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3534th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8394th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4789th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Rowena' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rowena"
Pronunciation
/roʊˈwiːnə/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
Rowena is derived from the Old English elements 'hrod', meaning 'fame', and 'wynn', meaning 'joy'. The name is often associated with the character Rowena in Sir Walter Scott's poem, which contributed to its popularity.
Meaning
Famous joy
Language Evolution
Old English: Hrothwyn, Middle English: Rowena, Modern English: Rowena
Historical Usage
Rowena gained popularity in the 19th century, especially after the publication of Sir Walter Scott's 'Ivanhoe', where the character Rowena is portrayed as a beautiful and noble woman.
Variants & Derivatives
Roe, Winnie, Ro
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Rowena is seen as an elegant and somewhat vintage name, often associated with literary references and romantic connotations.
Famous People
Rowena Ravenclaw (fictional character from the Harry Potter series), Rowena Morrison (notable figure in history)
Explore More Rowena Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rowena"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Rowena"
"Rowena" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 515th of 9107 | 3,216 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 593rd of 9204 | 2,477 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 919th of 12526 | 2,263 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1598th of 19264 | 984 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3534th of 27321 | 449 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 8394th of 35406 | 206 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4789th of 30306 | 340 |
Regional Popularity of "Rowena" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Rowena" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
30.08% 426th/1416 |
38.29% 528th/1379 |
23.20% 549th/2366 |
41.77% 477th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
32.60% 504th/1546 |
38.75% 603rd/1556 |
27.54% 648th/2353 |
37.75% 584th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
42.84% 954th/2227 |
44.32% 1077th/2430 |
33.51% 956th/2853 |
27.60% 766th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
68.54% 2013th/2937 |
59.78% 2082nd/3483 |
65.04% 2288th/3518 |
23.96% 969th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
81.38% 2999th/3685 |
100.00% 4475th/4475 |
- |
31.98% 2020th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
94.70% 3773rd/3984 |
100.00% 4487th/4487 |
- |
63.62% 3993rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Rowena"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rowena" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.