US Popularity Rank: 10205

Origin: German

Meaning: gentle horse; little rose

Rosaleen is a girl’s name of German and Irish origin. A variant of the Old German Rosalind, which means “gentle horse,” it’s a great choice for baby if you’re a horse lover. However, if you prefer flora to fauna, you’ll be excited to learn that Rosaleen also derives from the Irish Róisín, meaning “little rose.” In the 19th century, when Ireland was a colony of Great Britain, the poet James Clarence Mangan made the name famous with his poem “Dark Rosaleen.” At the time, all nationalist expression in Ireland was outlawed, and “Dark Rosaleen” disguised its fiery sentiments as love poetry. After that, Rosaleen became synonymous with Ireland itself. Beautiful and meaningful, Rosaleen will pay homage to your Irish heritage and the inspiring—if thorny—revolutionary history of the Emerald Isle.