Rowan

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Ruadháin, rooted in ruadh, meaning red-haired or russet. The name also overlaps with the rowan tree of Northern European folklore, known for its scarlet berries. American parents adopted it sparingly throughout the twentieth century before turning it into a staple of modern nursery rosters in the early two-thousands.

The name reads as modern, outdoorsy, and intentionally neutral. Most people pictured with it are still carrying school backpacks, given that the vast majority belong to Generation Alpha. It suggests parents who favor wooden toys and natural light over plastic primary colors. The name rarely has to explain how to spell itself, but it frequently shares a classroom with two other nature nouns.