Roland Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Roland originates from Old French, meaning 'famous land'. It evolved from the Germanic 'Hrodland' and has maintained its popularity since the Middle Ages, particularly due to its association with heroism in literature. The name carries connotations of bravery and nobility, and does not have biblical relevance.
The name Roland is most popular in Maine, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Roland has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Roland' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 117th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 127th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 206th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 308th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 484th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 737th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 603rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3821st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3512th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7175th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8327th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 19175th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Roland' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Roland"
Pronunciation
/ˈroʊ.lənd/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Roland is derived from the Old French name 'Hrodland', which comes from the Germanic elements 'hrod' meaning 'fame' and 'land' meaning 'land' or 'territory'.
Meaning
Famous land
Language Evolution
Hrodland, Roland (Old French), Roland (Modern French)
Historical Usage
Roland gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in France, due to the epic poem 'The Song of Roland', which celebrated the heroism of the character Roland during the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778.
Variants & Derivatives
Rolando, Rolan, Rolly
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Roland is viewed as a classic and noble name, often associated with bravery and heroism due to its legendary roots.
Famous People
Roland Barthes, Roland Emmerich, Roland Garros
Explore More Roland Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Roland"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Roland"
"Roland" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 117th of 7545 | 23,352 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 127th of 6773 | 26,351 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 206th of 7552 | 23,082 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 308th of 10718 | 10,144 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 484th of 16616 | 6,105 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 737th of 24088 | 4,331 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 603rd of 23106 | 5,547 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3821st of 9107 | 103 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3512th of 9204 | 123 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7175th of 12526 | 47 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 8327th of 19264 | 69 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 19175th of 27321 | 20 |
Regional Popularity of "Roland" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
7.56% 107th/1416 |
5.66% 78th/1379 |
6.55% 155th/2366 |
12.43% 142nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
8.28% 128th/1546 |
5.33% 83rd/1556 |
6.67% 157th/2353 |
10.21% 158th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
9.97% 222nd/2227 |
5.76% 140th/2430 |
7.01% 200th/2853 |
8.61% 239th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
12.80% 376th/2937 |
7.44% 259th/3483 |
7.82% 275th/3518 |
8.21% 332nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
17.86% 658th/3685 |
10.46% 468th/4475 |
8.09% 420th/5194 |
7.92% 500th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
19.18% 879th/4582 |
17.51% 904th/5164 |
9.34% 683rd/7313 |
9.78% 730th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
13.20% 526th/3984 |
16.14% 724th/4487 |
9.10% 621st/6822 |
8.94% 561st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Roland" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Roland"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Roland" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.