Given name & surname
Rowland
“from the renowned land”
In English use, Rowland is a variant of Roland. One German interpretation is “from the renowned land.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Rowland is a variant of Roland. One German interpretation is “from the renowned land.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Rowland is a variant of Roland. An origin associated with Roland is Germanic.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Rowland is a variant of Roland. The history of Roland gives this family its wider 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.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Rowland through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,279
- 4,279 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1917
- 90 babies
- 2025
- 16
- #5,798 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +6%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 16 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,798 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 5.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 90 in 1917. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,013 as a first name in 2020; 33,181 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.
Rowland’s family of names
Rowland has a surname derivative in ROWLANDSON. Rowland has a related form in Roland. In English usage, Rowland has a conventional equivalent in the German form Roland.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Rowland
- Rowland HillEnglish educational, social and postal reformer (1795-1879)
- Kele OkerekeEnglish singer, songwriter and guitaristborn 1981
- Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount HillBritish Army general (1772-1842)
- Rowland V. Leefilm director (1891-1975)
- Rowland WolfeAmerican gymnast (1914–2010)
- Rowland S. HowardAustralian musician and songwriter (1959–2009)
- Rowland GeorgeBritish rower (1905-1997)
- Rowland BiffenBritish botanist (1874-1949)
- Rowland Brownwriter/Director 1931-19521897–1963
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Rowland, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rolland
“from the renowned land”
>99% boys
Orland
“from the renowned land”
>99% boys
Rollin
“from the renowned land”
>99% boys
Orville
“from the gold town”
>99% boys
Homer
“a tomboyish woman” · “of the pledge; an epic poet”
>99% boys
Ralph
“wolt counsel”
>99% boys
Silvio
“a woodland dweller”
>99% boys
Ferdinand
“a courageous voyager”
>99% boys