Rowland
Rowland is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Famous land or renowned territory.
Origin and history
Rowland is a masculine given name derived from the Old Germanic elements meaning renowned land. It serves as a medieval English variant of Roland. Though traditionally less common than Roland, it has maintained steady, low-level usage in the United States over the decades.
Popularity in the United States
4,279 babies in the United States have been named Rowland since 1880. It ranks #1906 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1802.
States where it is most popular
- NY (24.7 %)
- PA (24.6 %)
- CA (13.4 %)
- MI (8.9 %)
- OH (8.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 57 |
| 1890-1900 | 77 |
| 1900-1910 | 106 |
| 1910-1920 | 521 |
| 1920-1930 | 721 |
| 1930-1940 | 544 |
| 1940-1950 | 486 |
| 1950-1960 | 522 |
| 1960-1970 | 379 |
| 1970-1980 | 183 |
| 1980-1990 | 153 |
| 1990-2000 | 133 |
| 2000-2010 | 111 |
| 2010-2019 | 161 |
| 2020-2029 | 125 |
Famous people named Rowland
- Rowland Hill: postal reformer, educator
- Rowland Wilson: animator, cartoonist
Nicknames
Row, Rollo
Fun facts
- Rowland appears in classical English literature and surname traditions, closely tied to the heroic legends of Roland.
- Rowland features an inserted 'w' compared to the traditional French and German form Roland, which became popularized in medieval England.