Is Roland a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Roland is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Roland?

It’s currently ranked #554 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Roland?

ROH-lənd · IPA: //ˈroʊ.lənd//

Roland Boy

Popularity: #554 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

Germanic; Old French

Meaning

Germanic: famous land; Old French: renowned in the land

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Roland has roots in the Germanic elements 'hrod' meaning fame and 'land' meaning land or territory. It became popular in the medieval period, particularly due to the epic poem 'The Song of Roland,' which celebrates the heroism of a knight named Roland. The name has been used in various forms across Europe, especially in France and Germany, and has maintained a presence in literature and culture over centuries.

Trend Summary

The name Roland has seen a steady presence in the U.S. but has fluctuated in popularity over the decades.

Variants

Rolan
Rollie

International Variants

Rolando (Spanish)
Roldan (Spanish)
Renaud (French)

Famous people named Roland

Roland Barthes was a French literary theorist and philosopher known for his influential works on semiotics and narrative theory.

Roland Emmerich is a German film director, producer, and screenwriter, recognized for directing blockbuster films such as 'Independence Day' and 'The Day After Tomorrow.'.

Roland Garros was a French aviator and fighter pilot, famous for being the first to fly across the Mediterranean Sea.

Roland Deschain is a fictional character and the protagonist of Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' series, known as the last gunslinger.

Fictional characters named Roland

Roland Deschain is the main character in Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' series, depicted as a determined and skilled gunslinger on a quest.

Roland the Brave is a character in the video game series 'Final Fantasy,' known for his valor and leadership.

Sibling Suggestions

Ronan Rolf Ruben Ryder Rafael Rex

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Roland was first seen in the United States in 1880. Roland has ranked as high as #237 nationally which occurred in 1924 and has been most popular in California, Texas, Washington, Florida, and Virginia. In the past 5 years the name Roland has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Roland (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	39	11%
TX	28	8%
WA	20	6%
FL	18	5%
VA	17	5%
MI	17	5%
NC	17	5%
MO	16	4%
MN	14	4%
PA	13	4%
IL	13	4%
UT	12	3%
MA	11	3%
MD	11	3%
NY	10	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	36
1881	30
1882	38
1883	36
1884	43
1885	48
1886	55
1887	49
1888	49
1889	60
1890	68
1891	69
1892	80
1893	91
1894	88
1895	97
1896	92
1897	92
1898	97
1899	101
1900	133
1901	113
1902	115
1903	107
1904	139
1905	143
1906	125
1907	132
1908	156
1909	153
1910	191
1911	230
1912	522
1913	611
1914	882
1915	1,137
1916	1,201
1917	1,285
1918	1,385
1919	1,355
1920	1,501
1921	1,630
1922	1,539
1923	1,678
1924	1,822
1925	1,785
1926	1,702
1927	1,713
1928	1,779
1929	1,730
1930	1,720
1931	1,698
1932	1,611
1933	1,474
1934	1,445
1935	1,486
1936	1,490
1937	1,317
1938	1,431
1939	1,329
1940	1,267
1941	1,287
1942	1,451
1943	1,384
1944	1,268
1945	1,184
1946	1,264
1947	1,434
1948	1,333
1949	1,221
1950	1,193
1951	1,295
1952	1,274
1953	1,281
1954	1,323
1955	1,267
1956	1,223
1957	1,210
1958	1,106
1959	1,158
1960	1,139
1961	1,132
1962	1,072
1963	1,070
1964	1,087
1965	934
1966	879
1967	800
1968	799
1969	770
1970	739
1971	640
1972	579
1973	562
1974	516
1975	513
1976	512
1977	472
1978	485
1979	466
1980	478
1981	455
1982	421
1983	404
1984	432
1985	414
1986	379
1987	408
1988	434
1989	405
1990	379
1991	359
1992	358
1993	332
1994	324
1995	286
1996	315
1997	254
1998	252
1999	255
2000	257
2001	242
2002	238
2003	249
2004	236
2005	277
2006	265
2007	301
2008	296
2009	304
2010	290
2011	302
2012	313
2013	360
2014	438
2015	471
2016	510
2017	534
2018	514
2019	538
2020	489
2021	405
2022	461
2023	414
2024	413