Rowena

/roʊˈiːnə/ noun

Definition

A feminine given name with Old English or Welsh origins.

Etymology

Possibly from Old English 'hroðwynn' (famous joy) or Welsh 'Rowenna.' The name gained literary fame from Sir Walter Scott's *Ivanhoe* (1819) and became popular in English-speaking countries thereafter.

Kelly Says

Rowena is actually a character in *Ivanhoe*—she's the Saxon noble woman who marries the main character, so whenever someone names their daughter Rowena, they're referencing a novel from 200+ years ago!

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