| Nolan | Rowan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Champion | Little red one; rowan tree |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | NOH-lun | ROH-un |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1881 | 1916 |
| Peak year | 2015 (5,739) | 2025 (5,212) |
| In 2025 | 4,846 | 5,212 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Nolan | Rowan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 30,357 | 24,763 |
| 2010s | 50,045 | 19,019 |
| 2000s | 26,374 | 5,491 |
| 1990s | 11,791 | 709 |
| 1980s | 4,678 | 182 |
| 1970s | 2,006 | 78 |
| 1960s | 1,494 | 71 |
| 1950s | 1,960 | 77 |
| 1940s | 2,003 | 76 |
| 1930s | 1,822 | 72 |
| 1920s | 1,674 | 72 |
| 1910s | 1,021 | 18 |
| 1900s | 174 | 0 |
| 1890s | 75 | 0 |
| 1880s | 31 | 0 |
Nolan comes from the Irish Ó Nualláin, linked to “champion” or “noble.”
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 Nolan today: about 5,212 US babies were given the name Rowan in 2025, compared with 4,846 named Nolan.
Nolan means Champion (Irish origin), while Rowan means Little red one; rowan tree (Irish origin).
In US records, Nolan first appears in 1881 and Rowan in 1916, so Nolan has the longer recorded history.