Rowland Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROW-lənd //ˈroʊ.lənd//
Origin: Old English; Germanic
Meaning: Old English: 'famous land'; Germanic: 'renowned land'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Rowland has its roots in the Old High German name Hruodland, which is composed of the elements 'hruod,' meaning 'fame' or 'glory,' and 'land,' meaning 'land' or 'territory.' This name was introduced into the English language through the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was adapted from the Old French form Roland. The name Roland became particularly prominent due to its association with the legendary figure of Roland, a hero of the epic poem "The Song of Roland," which dates back to the 11th century and recounts the valor of Charlemagne's knight during the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778.
This literary work significantly contributed to the name's popularity in medieval Europe. In the context of English history, Rowland appears in various forms in medieval records, often linked to nobility and chivalric traditions.
Notably, the name is associated with several historical figures, including Rowland Hill, a 16th-century English reformer and the founder of the postal system in England. The name also appears in various literary works and documents throughout the Middle Ages, reflecting its enduring presence in English culture.
The name Rowland was further popularized by its use in the context of Christian saints, particularly Saint Roland, a figure celebrated in various hagiographies. Culturally, Rowland has been associated with themes of bravery and honor, reflecting the heroic qualities attributed to its namesake, Roland.
The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Roland and Rolly, which have been used in different contexts throughout history. The enduring legacy of the name Rowland can be seen in its continued use in literature and its representation of noble ideals, making it a name of historical significance in both English and broader European contexts.
Famous people named Rowland
In this section, you will find notable people named Rowland. 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 Rowland who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Rowland 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.
Rowland S. Howard is a musician best known for his work with The Birthday Party, Crime & The City Solution, and his solo albums.
Rowland Hill is a preacher and educator best known for founding the modern Sunday school movement and his work in education reform.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rowland, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rowland. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Rowland was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Rowland has ranked as high as #762 nationally, which occurred in 1917, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Rowland has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Rowland 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 Rowland was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Rowland (1990)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
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 Rowland.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2021 | 24 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 1998 | 12 |
| 1997 | 8 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1994 | 10 |
| 1993 | 16 |
| 1992 | 12 |
| 1991 | 24 |
| 1990 | 19 |
| 1989 | 18 |
| 1988 | 10 |
| 1987 | 12 |
| 1986 | 15 |
| 1985 | 16 |
| 1984 | 16 |
| 1983 | 18 |
| 1982 | 14 |
| 1981 | 20 |
| 1980 | 14 |
| 1979 | 14 |
| 1978 | 17 |
| 1977 | 15 |
| 1976 | 24 |
| 1975 | 22 |
| 1974 | 21 |
| 1973 | 15 |
| 1972 | 16 |
| 1971 | 24 |
| 1970 | 15 |
| 1969 | 28 |
| 1968 | 24 |
| 1967 | 34 |
| 1966 | 28 |
| 1965 | 41 |
| 1964 | 36 |
| 1963 | 45 |
| 1962 | 50 |
| 1961 | 54 |
| 1960 | 39 |
| 1959 | 55 |
| 1958 | 52 |
| 1957 | 48 |
| 1956 | 57 |
| 1955 | 58 |
| 1954 | 57 |
| 1953 | 51 |
| 1952 | 47 |
| 1951 | 48 |
| 1950 | 49 |
| 1949 | 47 |
| 1948 | 46 |
| 1947 | 54 |
| 1946 | 54 |
| 1945 | 52 |
| 1944 | 44 |
| 1943 | 52 |
| 1942 | 55 |
| 1941 | 39 |
| 1940 | 43 |
| 1939 | 50 |
| 1938 | 60 |
| 1937 | 39 |
| 1936 | 43 |
| 1935 | 54 |
| 1934 | 61 |
| 1933 | 52 |
| 1932 | 62 |
| 1931 | 58 |
| 1930 | 65 |
| 1929 | 70 |
| 1928 | 64 |
| 1927 | 67 |
| 1926 | 68 |
| 1925 | 64 |
| 1924 | 83 |
| 1923 | 72 |
| 1922 | 77 |
| 1921 | 77 |
| 1920 | 79 |
| 1919 | 55 |
| 1918 | 74 |
| 1917 | 90 |
| 1916 | 83 |
| 1915 | 69 |
| 1914 | 50 |
| 1913 | 39 |
| 1912 | 27 |
| 1911 | 16 |
| 1910 | 18 |
| 1909 | 16 |
| 1907 | 11 |
| 1906 | 12 |
| 1905 | 5 |
| 1904 | 9 |
| 1903 | 19 |
| 1902 | 12 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1900 | 16 |
| 1899 | 11 |
| 1898 | 9 |
| 1897 | 6 |
| 1896 | 14 |
| 1894 | 10 |
| 1893 | 5 |
| 1892 | 5 |
| 1891 | 10 |
| 1890 | 7 |
| 1889 | 10 |
| 1888 | 7 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1886 | 6 |
| 1885 | 11 |
| 1884 | 5 |
| 1882 | 7 |
| 1880 | 5 |