Ruadhán
Say it: ROO-awn/ˈɾˠuːɑːnˠ/
BoyIrishMeans little red one7 letters2 syllables
#120
in Ireland (2025)
#115 with spellings combined
50
babies in 2025
#115
best rank (2025)
581
babies since 1973
Up 91
10-year rank change
Ruadhán through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 50 | #115 |
| 2024 | 30 | #165 |
| 2023 | 31 | #163 |
| 2022 | 34 | #164 |
| 2021 | 29 | #182 |
| 2020 | 22 | #216 |
| 2019 | 25 | #209 |
| 2018 | 32 | #177 |
| 2017 | 35 | #169 |
| 2016 | 20 | #245 |
| 2015 | 27 | #206 |
| 2014 | 23 | #237 |
| 2013 | 28 | #209 |
| 2012 | 19 | #263 |
| 2011 | 18 | #272 |
| 2010 | 16 | #284 |
| 2009 | 23 | #233 |
| 2008 | 11 | #346 |
| 2007 | 16 | #247 |
| 2006 | 12 | #271 |
| 2005 | 9 | #283 |
| 2004 | 10 | #263 |
| 2003 | 7 | #305 |
| 2002 | 8 | #267 |
| 2000 | 6 | #274 |
| 1999 | 7 | #241 |
| 1998 | 5 | #280 |
| 1997 | 4 | #337 |
| 1996 | 3 | #369 |
| 1995 | 4 | #301 |
| 1994 | 3 | #342 |
| 1993 | 4 | #302 |
| 1991 | 4 | #288 |
| 1981 | 3 | #322 |
| 1973 | 3 | #320 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Ruadhán mean?
Little red one
Irish, from Old Irish Rúadán, built on ruadh (red) with the small ending -án.
Say it right
ROOawn
The "dh" is silent. In Munster the stress often falls on the second syllable, roo-AWN.
Not:ROO-a-danroo-AD-an
The story of Ruadhán
Ruadhán goes back to the Old Irish name Rúadán. It is built on ruadh, meaning red or auburn, with the small ending -án, so it means something like “little red one”. The surname Ó Ruadháin grew out of it, and English speakers turned that into Ruane and Rowan.
The best-known bearer is Saint Ruadhán, a sixth-century abbot who founded the monastery of Lorrha, near Terryglass in County Tipperary. He was remembered for his prophecies and counted as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. His feast day is 15 April.
Ruadhán is a rare name that is growing. The year 2025 was its best so far, with 50 boys once spellings are combined, at number 115. The CSO counts Ruadhán (46 babies) and Ruadhan (4) separately. It is also rising in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 95 in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Ruadhán (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Ruadhán of Lorrha
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ruadhán | 46 | 242 |
| Ruadhan | 4 | 339 |
In Northern Ireland
#95 in 2025 with 25 babies. Best rank #81 (2024); 169 babies since 2004.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.