Given name & surname · also Germanic
Roland
“from the renowned land”
Roland brings together Germanic name elements and a medieval heroic tradition.
Original GermanRuland
Meaning & origin
What it means
One German interpretation is “from the renowned land.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Germanic.
How it developed
Its Germanic formation brings together hrod (“fame”) and land (“land, territory”).
The story
The Chanson de Roland tells of Charlemagne’s follower Roland and his death at Roncesvalles. His devoted friendship with Oliver forms part of that literary tradition; in Italian versions, Roland becomes Orlando.
Roland through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 101,191
- 100,829 boys · 362 girls
- Most popular year
- 1924
- 1,834 babies
- 2025
- 466
- #608 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −17%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 466 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 608 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 16.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 1,822 in 1924. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (50). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 51,667 as a first name in 2020; 18,139 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Roland’s family of names
In English usage, Roland has a diminutive in Lanny. Roland shares a linguistic root with Orlando. In English usage, Roland has a conventional equivalent in the Portuguese form Rolando.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Roland has relatives in 18 languages. Lines run from its Proto-Germanic roots to each of them.
36 related names in 18 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 23
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Rollandvariant · German, French
- Rollidiminutive · German
- Roelandvariant · German, Dutch
- Rodlandvariant · German
- Rolandovariant · Portuguese, Spanish
- Rollinsvariant
- Rowlandvariant · English
- Rollinvariant
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- Rollievariant
- Rollovariant
- Rollydiminutive · English
- Lannydiminutive · English
- Rolydiminutive · English
- Rolldiminutive · English
- Rollanvariant
- Roleyvariant
- Roldanvariant
- Rolidiminutive · Hungarian
- Rollantvariant · Old French
- Rolandzikdiminutive · Polish
- Rolandekdiminutive · Polish
- Rolandkadiminutive · Hungarian
- Rolcsidiminutive · Hungarian
Across languages 25
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 6
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Roland
- Roland BarthesFrench philosopher and essayist (1915–1980)
- Roland EmmerichGerman filmmaker (born 1955)
- RolandFrankish knight737–778
- Orlando di LassoFranco-Flemish composer (1532–1594)
- Roland GarrosReunionese aviator1888–1918
- Roland FreislerGerman jurist and politician (1893–1945)
- Roland RatzenbergerAustrian racing driver (1960–1994)
- Roland SallaiHungarian association football player (born 1997)
- Roland JofféEnglish and French film/television director and producerborn 1945
Characters named Roland: Roland Deschain (protagonist from Stephen King's "The Dark Tower").
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Roland, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ralph
“wolt counsel”
>99% boys
Ferdinand
“a courageous voyager”
>99% boys
Raymond
“a wise protector”
>99% boys
Leonard
“having the strength of a lion”
>99% boys
Richmond
“from the wealthy hill” · “a powerful protector”
>99% boys
Fred
“a peaceful ruler” · “one who counsels the elves”
>99% boys
Norman
“a man from the north”
>99% boys
Odell
“a sweet melody” · “one who is wealthy”
98% boys · 2% girls