Rowena
Rowena: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Rowena
- A female given name from the Germanic languages.
Etymology
From the name of the daughter of Hengist and wife of Vortigern in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th century pseudohistorical Latin work Historia regum Britanniae. There have been attempts to connect it to some unattested Old English or Common Brittonic name, but without any real evidence. It was revived after Walter Scott used it in his novel Ivanhoe (1819). Some places are named after Lady Rowena in the novel.
How popular is Rowena?
Since 1880, 10,526 girls in the U.S. have been named Rowena. Its highest rank for girls was #429 in 1893. In 2025, 32 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Rowena
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic girl names
Sibling name ideas for Rowena
Sister and brother names that share Rowena's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Rowena FAQ
What does the name Rowena mean?
A female given name from the Germanic languages. From the name of the daughter of Hengist and wife of Vortigern in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th century pseudohistorical Latin work Historia regum Britanniae. There have been attempts to connect it to some unattested Old English or Common Brittonic name, but without any real evidence. It was revived after Walter Scott used it in his novel Ivanhoe (1819). Some places are named after Lady Rowena in the novel.
What is the origin of the name Rowena?
Rowena is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Rowena?
Since 1880, 10,526 girls in the U.S. have been named Rowena. Its highest rank for girls was #429 in 1893. In 2025, 32 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Rowena a boy or girl name?
Rowena is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 10,526 girls and 0 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.