Rowena

A fabled storybook name via the heroine of Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe (1819), which featured a heroine called Rowena of Hargottstanstede, and also a Harry Potter name, as Rowena Ravenclaw, founder of one of the Hogwarts houses, Rowena is a retro feeling choice with literary charm.

While the exact origin of the name is unknown, it is mentioned by the 12th-century chronicler, Geoffrey of Monmouth, who suggests it was the name of a Saxon chief. As such, it may combine the Old English elements hroð meaning "fame", with either wynn or wine meaning "joy" and "friend" respectively. An alternative possibility is that is blends the Welsh gwen ("white, fair, blessed") with ron ("spear").

While it might be perceived today as a spin-off of Rowan and Rowen, the pronunciation, however, is not like the popular nature name with an a at the end, but with a long e and an emphasis on the middle syllable. She was on the popularity list in the US until 1963 and spent several years in the Top 500 in the early 20th century, while in the UK, she ranked until the 2000s.

The Welsh variation Rhonwen is used in Welsh literature as a personification of the English people, while Rowina and Rowenna are spelling alternatives, the latter likely to give you the ro-WEHN-uh sound.

Pronounced ro-EE-nuh.

As of October 2026, Rowena ranked #4441 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #429 in 1917, Nameberry popularity #311.