Irish boy name
Ruadhán Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Ruadhán means little red one. From the Irish ruadh, red, with a diminutive ending
Ruadhán is an Irish name from ruadh, meaning red-haired, with a small ending. It was borne by Saint Ruadhán of Lorrha in County Tipperary, one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. The name is closely related to Rowan, which is a popular English name, though the origin of Rowan is separate. Ruadhán has a soft, rounded sound, ROO-awn, and a deep link to Irish saints. It is a good choice for parents with red-haired relatives or for those drawn to early Irish monastic history.
Variants of Ruadhán
RowanRuadhanRuanRooan
Ruadhán popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Ruadhán ranked #115 in Ireland (50 babies). It is too rare to appear in US rankings.
Ireland (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ruadhán mean?
Ruadhán means "little red one". From the Irish ruadh, red, with a diminutive ending.
How do you pronounce Ruadhán?
Ruadhán is pronounced ROO-awn.
What is the origin of Ruadhán?
Ruadhán is of Irish origin. From the Irish ruadh, red, with a diminutive ending.