English, possibly from Old German "horse" or "fame" or from the surnames Rose and Ross which may have been derived from the Norman place-name Rots, Old German "clearing".

Rose as a female forename pre-dates the Victorian introduction of flower names for girls.

A correspondent [HG] has suggested a possible alternative derivation of the surnames Rose and Ross from the Gaelic ros, "headland" This could also provide the derivation of the very rare use of Rose as a male forename.

In old documents in Latin, the form Rosa was used, with appropriate case endings for Rose.