| Aidan | Rowan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Little fire | Little red one; rowan tree |
| Origin | irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | AY-dən | ROH-un |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1936 | 1916 |
| Peak year | 2003 (10,067) | 2025 (5,212) |
| In 2025 | 1,043 | 5,212 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Aidan | Rowan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6,955 | 24,763 |
| 2010s | 25,446 | 19,019 |
| 2000s | 76,513 | 5,491 |
| 1990s | 8,783 | 709 |
| 1980s | 465 | 182 |
| 1970s | 172 | 78 |
| 1960s | 71 | 71 |
| 1950s | 21 | 77 |
| 1940s | 0 | 76 |
| 1930s | 5 | 72 |
| 1920s | 0 | 72 |
| 1910s | 0 | 18 |
Anglicized form of Aodhan, a diminutive of the Old Irish name Aodh, which means 'fire' and was borne by a Celtic sun/fire god. The name therefore reads as 'little fire' or 'fiery one'.
Rowan has two roots that meet in the name: the Irish Ruadhán, “little red one,” and the English name of the rowan tree with its red berries.
Rowan is more popular than Aidan today: about 5,212 US babies were given the name Rowan in 2025, compared with 1,043 named Aidan.
Aidan means Little fire (irish origin), while Rowan means Little red one; rowan tree (Irish origin).
In US records, Aidan first appears in 1936 and Rowan in 1916, so Rowan has the longer recorded history.