Roland Boy

Popularity: #531 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROH-lənd //ˈroʊ.lənd//

Origin: Germanic; Old French

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

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Roland has its roots in the Germanic elements "hrod," meaning "fame," and "land," meaning "land" or "territory." This etymology suggests a literal meaning of "famous land" or "land of fame." The name was introduced to the English language through the Old French form "Roland," which became popular after the dissemination of the epic poem "The Song of Roland" in the 11th century. This poem, which recounts the heroism of Roland, a knight and military leader under Charlemagne, played a significant role in shaping the cultural perception of the name in medieval Europe.

Historically, Roland is associated with several notable figures, including the legendary hero of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778, as depicted in the aforementioned epic. The character of Roland became emblematic of chivalry and bravery, influencing the portrayal of knights in literature and folklore throughout the Middle Ages.

The name also appears in various forms in different languages, such as "Roldan" in Spanish and "Renaud" in French, reflecting its widespread appeal across cultures. In addition to its literary significance, Roland has been linked to various saints, most notably Saint Roland, who is recognized in some Christian traditions.

The name's enduring legacy is further supported by its association with nobility and heroism, making it a favored choice among aristocratic families in medieval Europe. The diminutive form "Rolly" has also emerged, though it is less historically significant.

Overall, the name Roland carries a rich tapestry of historical and cultural resonance, symbolizing valor and renown.

Famous people named Roland

In this section, you will find notable people named Roland. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Roland who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Roland who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Roland Barthes is a literary critic and theorist best known for Mythologies, S/Z, and The Death of the Author.

Roland Emmerich is a filmmaker best known for Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012.

Roland Garros is a French aviation pioneer best known for being the first person to fly across the Mediterranean Sea and for the tennis tournament named after him.

Fictional characters named Roland

The following list of fictional characters named Roland is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Roland Deschain is a fictional character from the book series The Dark Tower. He is the last gunslinger on a quest to find the Dark Tower and save his world from destruction.

Roland is a fictional character from the video game series Bloodborne. He is a key figure in the lore, representing the struggle against the Great Ones and the horrors of the hunt.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Roland, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RonanRolfRubenRyderRafaelRex

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Roland. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

RonaldRonanRolandusRolloRoldanRodolfoRory

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Roland was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Roland has ranked as high as #243 nationally, which occurred in 1924, and has been most popular in Texas, Massachusetts, California, New York, and Louisiana.

In the past 5 years the name Roland has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Roland is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Roland was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Roland.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 466 466 0
2024 413 413 0
2023 414 414 0
2022 461 461 0
2021 405 405 0
2020 490 490 0
2019 538 538 0
2018 514 514 0
2017 534 534 0
2016 510 510 0
2015 471 471 0
2014 438 438 0
2013 360 360 0
2012 313 313 0
2011 302 302 0
2010 290 290 0
2009 304 304 0
2008 296 296 0
2007 301 301 0
2006 265 265 0
2005 277 277 0
2004 236 236 0
2003 249 249 0
2002 238 238 0
2001 242 242 0
2000 257 257 0
1999 255 255 0
1998 252 252 0
1997 254 254 0
1996 315 315 0
1995 286 286 0
1994 324 324 0
1993 332 332 0
1992 358 358 0
1991 359 359 0
1990 379 379 0
1989 405 405 0
1988 435 435 0
1987 413 408 5
1986 379 379 0
1985 413 413 0
1984 432 432 0
1983 414 404 10
1982 421 421 0
1981 460 455 5
1980 478 478 0
1979 473 466 7
1978 491 485 6
1977 480 472 8
1976 520 512 8
1975 513 513 0
1974 522 517 5
1973 561 561 0
1972 579 579 0
1971 650 640 10
1970 748 739 9
1969 770 770 0
1968 799 799 0
1967 800 800 0
1966 889 880 9
1965 940 933 7
1964 1,096 1,087 9
1963 1,069 1,069 0
1962 1,073 1,073 0
1961 1,140 1,132 8
1960 1,143 1,138 5
1959 1,165 1,159 6
1958 1,106 1,106 0
1957 1,216 1,210 6
1956 1,223 1,223 0
1955 1,275 1,267 8
1954 1,322 1,322 0
1953 1,281 1,281 0
1952 1,278 1,273 5
1951 1,295 1,295 0
1950 1,193 1,193 0
1949 1,221 1,221 0
1948 1,333 1,333 0
1947 1,434 1,434 0
1946 1,264 1,264 0
1945 1,184 1,184 0
1944 1,274 1,268 6
1943 1,389 1,384 5
1942 1,457 1,452 5
1941 1,286 1,286 0
1940 1,272 1,267 5
1939 1,342 1,329 13
1938 1,437 1,431 6
1937 1,324 1,317 7
1936 1,495 1,490 5
1935 1,486 1,486 0
1934 1,450 1,445 5
1933 1,482 1,474 8
1932 1,626 1,611 15
1931 1,708 1,697 11
1930 1,730 1,721 9
1929 1,741 1,730 11
1928 1,791 1,779 12
1927 1,732 1,713 19
1926 1,717 1,702 15
1925 1,792 1,785 7
1924 1,834 1,822 12
1923 1,678 1,678 0
1922 1,551 1,539 12
1921 1,640 1,630 10
1920 1,501 1,501 0
1919 1,364 1,355 9
1918 1,385 1,385 0
1917 1,292 1,285 7
1916 1,208 1,201 7
1915 1,142 1,137 5
1914 882 882 0
1913 611 611 0
1912 522 522 0
1911 230 230 0
1910 191 191 0
1909 153 153 0
1908 156 156 0
1907 132 132 0
1906 125 125 0
1905 143 143 0
1904 139 139 0
1903 107 107 0
1902 115 115 0
1901 113 113 0
1900 133 133 0
1899 101 101 0
1898 97 97 0
1897 92 92 0
1896 92 92 0
1895 97 97 0
1894 88 88 0
1893 91 91 0
1892 80 80 0
1891 69 69 0
1890 68 68 0
1889 60 60 0
1888 49 49 0
1887 49 49 0
1886 55 55 0
1885 48 48 0
1884 43 43 0
1883 36 36 0
1882 38 38 0
1881 30 30 0
1880 36 36 0

Top States for Roland (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 39
10%
TX 28
7%
WA 20
5%
FL 18
5%
MI 17
5%
NC 17
5%
VA 17
5%
MO 16
4%
MN 14
4%
PA 13
3%
IL 13
3%
CO 12
3%
UT 12
3%
MD 11
3%
MA 11
3%
IN 10
3%
NY 10
3%
OK 9
2%
WI 9
2%
SC 9
2%
KY 9
2%
OR 8
2%
AR 8
2%
OH 8
2%
GA 7
2%
IA 7
2%
AL 7
2%
NE 6
2%
NJ 5
1%
ID 5
1%