This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- Reddish-brown (as in a horse's coat); also linked to Irish Ruadhán, 'little red one'
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- ROHN
Roan comes from a color: reddish-brown, like the coat of a horse. It's also linked to the Irish name Ruadhán, which means 'little red one.' Both roots point to the same warm, reddish shade.
Meaning & Origin of Roan
Meaning: Reddish-brown (as in a horse's coat); also linked to Irish Ruadhán, 'little red one'.
How to Pronounce Roan
ROHNIPA /roʊn/
Popularity of Roan
Roan ranked #1350 in 2024, with 141 babies given the name. That is also its highest ranking in the Social Security data, which runs from 1926 to 2024.
Names Like Roan
These names have followed a similar path to Roan in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Roan mean?
Reddish-brown (as in a horse’s coat); also linked to Irish Ruadhán, ‘little red one’.
How do you pronounce Roan?
Roan is pronounced ROHN (IPA: /roʊn/).
Is Roan a popular name right now?
Roan is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #1350 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1926–2024.)
Make Roan Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Roan, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Roan? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →




