Roland
Roland is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Famous land or renowned territory.
Origin and history
Roland is a traditional masculine name derived from Germanic roots meaning famous land. It gained widespread popularity in medieval Europe through the legend of the Frankish military leader celebrated in the Song of Roland. In the United States, it has been a consistently used classical name, ranking within the top 1,000 masculine names since 1880.
Popularity in the United States
100,829 babies in the United States have been named Roland since 1880. It ranks #315 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #606.
States where it is most popular
- TX (9.3 %)
- MA (6.6 %)
- CA (6.3 %)
- NY (6 %)
- LA (4.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 444 |
| 1890-1900 | 875 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,316 |
| 1910-1920 | 8,799 |
| 1920-1930 | 16,879 |
| 1930-1940 | 15,001 |
| 1940-1950 | 13,093 |
| 1950-1960 | 12,329 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,681 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,484 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,230 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,114 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,665 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,270 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,649 |
Famous people named Roland
- Roland Emmerich: Director, Producer
- Roland Martin: Journalist, Author
- Roland Garros: Aviator, Fighter Pilot
Nicknames
Rollie, Roly, Ronnie
Fun facts
- The name was immortalized in 'The Song of Roland', an 11th-century Old French epic poem based on a real 8th-century paladin of Charlemagne.
- Roland has registered over 100,000 U.S. birth records since 1880, reflecting enduring historical appeal.