I find Rowan difficult to enunciate. Something about the "w" that sticks when I say it out loud.

I like Julian.

Rowan. But I love both!

Ugh stop using boy names for girls. There will be nothing left. It smacks of misogyny anyway.

I love Julian and know several very sweet boys named Julian.

I don't love Rowan but do like Ronan a lot (not that you asked about Ronan). There is also the more popular Roman.

I think they're all nice, just so different. It's hard to tell what will be the best fit for you.

Julian: I love this name. It's definitely cool/artsy/hippie. I think the kid would have to be very cool to pull it off.

Rowan: Hate to say it, but I only know female Rowans, so I'd let this one go. Or turn it into Ronan, a great Irish men's name.

James: Great name, but it's very popular right now, especially when you add in the Jamesons. It's also an extremely popular middle name. Could be nice for you ... Ronan James?

Leo: I love this name. It feels happy, friendly, also cool, but would work for any kind of kid.

So, I guess I vote Leo, but I can see something nice in all of them.

Honestly OP - these are all perfectly good names. No one is going to make fun of your kid for any of these. Go with whichever you like best. (For what it’s worth, I’ve met two baby boy Rowans in the past few years).

Anonymous wrote:I quite like both and have never met a Rowan of either gender. Uncommon but legit!

Love the misogyny of everyone saying "Rowan is used for girls so you shouldn't use it for a boy even though it's historically been a boys' name." Like a name being used for girls somehow taints it (clearly this view doesn't go the other way, since "boy" names are used for girls all the time).

Yeah, but wouldn't you want to know, if you were a first-time parent, if a boy's name you are considering is mostly being used by girls? At least bake that knowledge into your decision. True story, in the late 70s, I knew both a male Ashley and a male Shannon (both little boys). Because of misogyny or for other reasons, both were going by other names/middle names by their teen years and are still using those alternate name in adulthood.

I know two male Rohans, FWIW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I quite like both and have never met a Rowan of either gender. Uncommon but legit!

Love the misogyny of everyone saying "Rowan is used for girls so you shouldn't use it for a boy even though it's historically been a boys' name." Like a name being used for girls somehow taints it (clearly this view doesn't go the other way, since "boy" names are used for girls all the time).

It *can* taint it. I'm not saying it's right.

Would you name a boy:

Leslie
Tracy
Carey
???

I know men or little boys named each of those names. I've never thought twice about it. What is your issue?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I quite like both and have never met a Rowan of either gender. Uncommon but legit!

Love the misogyny of everyone saying "Rowan is used for girls so you shouldn't use it for a boy even though it's historically been a boys' name." Like a name being used for girls somehow taints it (clearly this view doesn't go the other way, since "boy" names are used for girls all the time).

It *can* taint it. I'm not saying it's right.

Would you name a boy:

Leslie
Tracy
Carey
???

I'm PP and I know one of each of these males, and they are lovely, masculine men and fathers. It's just a name that can be confusing. Do I wish it didn't matter? Yes.
Mom of a female Wyatt. j/k

Anonymous wrote:I quite like both and have never met a Rowan of either gender. Uncommon but legit!

Love the misogyny of everyone saying "Rowan is used for girls so you shouldn't use it for a boy even though it's historically been a boys' name." Like a name being used for girls somehow taints it (clearly this view doesn't go the other way, since "boy" names are used for girls all the time).

It *can* taint it. I'm not saying it's right.

Would you name a boy:

Leslie
Tracy
Carey
???

I quite like both and have never met a Rowan of either gender. Uncommon but legit!

Love the misogyny of everyone saying "Rowan is used for girls so you shouldn't use it for a boy even though it's historically been a boys' name." Like a name being used for girls somehow taints it (clearly this view doesn't go the other way, since "boy" names are used for girls all the time).

Anonymous wrote:Julian

Isn’t Rowan a girl name?

It was originally a boy name. Rowan Atkinson (Blackadder, Mr. Bean)

Anonymous wrote:Love James and Julian -- both were on our short list of names if we had had a boy recently.

Rowan is fine.

Leo sounds like a nickname to me. A cousin named her son this a few years ago and, generally, extended family did not like the name. (Which I know doesn't matter but since you are asking opinions...)

+1

I know it’s a name, but it doesn’t feel like it.

I only know female Rowans.

I’m a teacher and have had three very nice boys named Julian. It would be my vote.

Love James and Julian -- both were on our short list of names if we had had a boy recently.

Rowan is fine.

Leo sounds like a nickname to me. A cousin named her son this a few years ago and, generally, extended family did not like the name. (Which I know doesn't matter but since you are asking opinions...)