Rosaleen is an Irish female first name. It is an Anglicized version of the Irish name Róisín, the diminutive of "rose" in the

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

; it therefore means "little rose". It has use in Ireland since the 16th century, possibly popularised by Rosaline in Shakespeare's

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

. The name featured in "Dark Rosaleen" by

James Clarence Mangan James Clarence Mangan, born James Mangan ( ga, Séamus Ó Mangáin; 1 May 1803, Dublin – 20 June 1849), was an Irish poet. He freely translated works from German, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Irish, with his translations of Goethe gaining sp ...

, a patriotic poem disguised as a love song, in a time when nationalistic expression was outlawed in Ireland. Thus the name is a poetic

symbol A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different conc ...

of Ireland. ''Dark Rosaleen'' is also the name of a novel by

Elizabeth O'Shea Dillon Elizabeth O'Shea Dillon (1842 – 1900) was an Irish writer. Life Elizabeth O'Shea Dillon was born in 1842 in Nenagh, County Tipperary. Her parents were John and Mary Anne O'Shea (née Gill) of Summerhill, Nenagh. Her father was a journalist wit ...

, published in 1884, which was serialised in '' United Ireland''.

People with the given name

Rosaleen Davey Rosaleen Davey (born 1947) is an Irish visual artist. Biography Rosaleen Davey was born in Belfast in 1947. She has lived in Dublin since the 1970s. Davey studied in the Ulster College of Art in Belfast and at Leeds University. Davey studied wi ...

(born 1947), Irish visual artist *

Rosaleen Linehan Rosaleen Philomena Linehan (; born 1 June 1937) is an Irish stage, screen and television actress. Career Linehan was born in Dublin. She attended University College Dublin and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Po ...

(born 1937), Irish stage, screen and television actress *

Rosaleen Love Rosaleen Love (born 1940) is an Australian science journalist and writer. She has a PhD in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Melbourne. She has written works on the Great Barrier Reef and other science or conservation t ...

(born 1940), Australian science journalist and writer *

Rosaleen McDonagh Rosaleen McDonagh is an activist, playwright and Irish Traveller. Early life McDonagh was born in Sligo and is the fourth of twenty children. She was born with a disability. She spent ten years working in the Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Ce ...

, activist, playwright and Irish Traveller *

Rosaleen Mills Rosaleen Mills (16 July 1905 – 17 September 1993) was an Irish activist and educator. Early life and education Rosaleen Mills was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway on 16 July 1905. She was the fourth of the five children of John and Rosetta ...

(1905–1993), Irish activist and educator *

Rosaleen Moriarty-Simmonds Rosaleen (Rosie) Moriarty-Simmonds (born 1960) is a British businesswoman, artist and disability rights campaigner. She was born without arms or legs after her mother was prescribed thalidomide in pregnancy. Education She attended Ysgol Erw'r ...

(born 1960), British businesswoman, artist and disability rights campaigner * Rosaleen Norton (1917–1979), New Zealand-born Australian artist and occultist

References

{{given name English feminine given names English given names Irish feminine given names