The nameRoland
Roland is the hero of the Song of Roland, the great French epic. It is a knightly classic.
- Boy's name
- Germanic
Meaning
Roland comes from the Germanic hrod, "fame", and land, "land": "famous throughout the land".
Origin
Germanic, through French.
History
Roland, paladin of Charlemagne, died at Roncevaux in 778, and his legend spread across Europe. In Italy he became Orlando. In the United States Roland reached 98th place in 1924.
Did you know?
- The aviator Roland Garros made the first flight across the Mediterranean in 1913, and the Paris tennis stadium is named after him.
Famous people named Roland
- Roland, paladin of Charlemagne
- Roland Barthes, critic
- Roland Garros, aviator
Popularity of the name Roland
Roland in the United States
Roland was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 16,977 births over the decade, 17% of all recorded babies named Roland. Its rise began around 1910, and it peaked in 1924. Half of all babies named Roland in the United States were born before 1945, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 436 births a year.
Roland in the United Kingdom
Roland was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 195 births over the decade, 38% of all recorded babies named Roland. Half of all babies named Roland in the United Kingdom were born before 2016, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 29 births a year on average, against 24 in the five years before.
Roland in France
Roland in Austria
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Roland
Names from the same generation as Roland, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Roland? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Roland with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Roland side by side with the name of your choice.
Roland in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Roland mean?
Roland comes from the Germanic hrod, "fame", and land, "land": "famous throughout the land".
What is the origin of the name Roland?
Germanic, through French.
Is Roland a girl's or a boy's name?
Roland is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Roland?
In 2024, Roland was the 663rd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 413 births.
What are the variants of the name Roland?
Variants and related names of Roland include Orlane, Rolande, Rolland and Rollande.
What are good sibling names for Roland?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Mina, Ida, Louisa and Amalia for a sister, Bruno, Conrad, Lewis and Walter for a brother.
Who are famous people named Roland?
Roland, paladin of Charlemagne; Roland Barthes, critic; Roland Garros, aviator.