Roan

RO-un; RONE

Spelling variation of Rowan, Irish, Frisian, English word name

"little redhead; rowan tree; raven; animal with a coat of two interspersed colors"

Roan Origin and Meaning

The name Roan is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning "little redhead; rowan tree; raven; animal with a coat of two interspersed colors".

This sleek, warm-hued spelling spin on Rowan was chosen by Sharon Stone for one of her three sons back in the 2000s and it has since risen in popularity in the US. While it remains a long way behind its sometimes sound-alike Rowan, it was still given to more than 100 babies in a recent year.

A name of multiple origins and meanings, Roan could simply be a contracted form of stylish Rowan, which is itself a name with more than one meaning. On one hand, it's a nature nature, denoting a red-berried tree, while on the other, it is an Anglicized form of the Irish Ruadhán, meaning "little redhead". In this case, it would be said with two syllables.

Alternatively, Roan is a Frisian name, ultimately from the Old German hraban, meaning "raven". As such, it's a familiar option in The Netherlands where it ranked in the Top 150 in a recent year.

Roan could however be an English word name, used to describe an animal that has a coat comprised of two different colors interspersed together. Again, it would be pronounced with just one syllable, to rhyme with Joan or lone.

Roan Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 573 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Roan

• 573 Nameberry 2025
• 517 Unique 2023
• 838 England 2021
• 99 Netherlands 2023

20 Names Similar to Roan

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Roan.

• Orin
• Oren
• Torin
• Emery
• Evren
• Sloane
• Marlowe
• Bryn
• Wynn
• Arlen
• Calder
• Finnick
• Maxen
• Alder
• Linden
• Riven
• Merrick
• Fallon
• Auden
• Laith

Famous People Named Roan

• Roan Carneiro Brazilian mixed martial artist
• Roan Joseph Bronstein son of actress Sharon Stone and Phil Bronstein
• Roan Howard Cassidy (b. 2006) son of actor/producer Shaun Cassidy
• Roan McKay (b. 2016) son of actress Erin Chambers and Carson McKay
• Levon Roan Green Thurman Hawke son of actors Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke

The name Roan in Pop Culture

• Roan Fel character in the "Star Wars Legends" series
• King Roan of Azgeda character on CW show "The 100"
• "The Secret of Roan Inish " 1994 American/Irish film
• Roan Novachez character in “Jedi Academy”