Rowena

Rowena is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name, regarded as a Latinized form of Hrodwyn. Translated, the name means "the famous friend" or "fame and friend."

What does the name Rowena mean?

Rowena is a traditional Anglo-Saxon name, considered a Latinized variant of Hrodwyn. The direct translation is "the famous friend" or "fame and friend." The name consists of the Old English elements hroð, meaning "fame" or "honor," and wine, meaning "friend." Additionally, Rowena could also derive from an unknown Saxon name that combines hroð for "fame" and wynn for "joy" or "happiness," in which case the meaning would be "the happy famous one" or "fame and joy." Another possible origin could be connected to the Old Welsh words rhon or rhawn for "spear" or "bushy hair" and gwynn for "white" or "pure," which could then be interpreted as "the one with the white spear." In the Celtic linguistic context, the name is understood as "the slender and beautiful." Rowena was adopted from English in the 1960s and was already known in the 12th century as a Saxon queen of Britain, daughter of King Hengist. Variants of the name include Rovena, Rowina, and Rhonwen. The popularity of Rowena was boosted by Walter Scott's novel "Ivanhoe."

Where does the name Rowena come from?

The name Rowena has its roots in Old English and means "the famous friend." It derives from Hrodwyn, where hroð stands for "fame" or "honor" and wine means "friend." It is also believed that the name comes from an unknown Saxon name that combines hroð for "fame" and wynn for "joy." Additionally, it could be derived from Old Welsh, where rhon or rhawn means "spear" or "bushy hair" and gwynn means "white" or "pure." The languages from which the name originates are Anglo-Saxon and English.

How do you pronounce Rowena?

The pronunciation of Rowena is three syllables and features a gentle structure. In German, the name is typically pronounced as "Ro-we-na" [ʁoˈweːna]. The name begins with an inviting sound, followed by a slightly elongated middle syllable that is calmly emphasized. The final "a" provides an open, warm sound. Overall, Rowena conveys a harmonious and calm impression – soft, melodic, and with even sound flow.

Popularity

Rowena is a rather rare name in Germany. In 2023, it ranked 5,633rd on the list of most common female names. The best ranking for Rowena was in 2010, when it reached 2,348th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 30 times, placing it at 4,714th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 4,836th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ena / Enchen / Nana / Ro / Rowa / Rowe / Rowenchen / Roweni / Rowenta / Rowi / Rowl / Rowy / Wena / Weni

Similar first names

Famous people

• Lady Rowena (character from 'Ivanhoe')
• Rowena Bali (Mexican writer)
• Rowena Cooper (English actress)
• Rowena Farre (British writer)
• Rowena Green Matthews (American biochemist)
• Rowena Kennett (actress from Thailand)
• Rowena McLeoud (witch from Supernatural)
• Rowena Meeks Abdy (painter from the USA)
• Rowena Morrill (American artist)
• Rowena Ravenclaw (founder from Harry Potter)
• Rowena Sanchez Arrieta (musician from the Philippines)
• Rowena Spencer (American physicist)