Roland is a distinctive choice, ranked #896 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Roland in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#896
US Rank #608
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About the Name Roland
Roland is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 98 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #818 in 1996 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Roland is uncommon in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Roland in their class.
In the US it ranks even higher at #663, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
⭐ Famous People Named Roland
Roland Garros (aviator) — Eugène Adrien Roland Georges Garros was a French aviation pioneer and fighter pilot.
Madame Roland — Jeanne Marie "Manon" Roland de la Platière, born Jeanne Marie Phlipon, and best known under the name Madame Roland was a French revolutionary, salonnière and writer.
Roland Huntford — Roland Huntford was a British author, principally of biographies of Polar explorers.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Roland
Unlikely. With around 35 UK babies named Roland per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Roland in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Roland is rising: up 334 places since 2020, to #896 in 2025. Its best recorded position was #818 in 1996.
Roland is more popular in the US (#663) than in the UK (#1132). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Roland include: Isabella Roland, Roland Dupree and Roland MC-303. Short summaries for each appear below.
Roland ranks #663 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
35
UK babies named Roland (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 334 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Roland
Almost certainly the only Roland in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Roland
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Jeanne Marie "Manon" Roland de la Platière, born Jeanne Marie Phlipon, and best known under the name Madame Roland was a French revolutionary, salonnière and writer.
Karl Roland Freisler was a German jurist, judge, and politician who served as the State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice from 1935 to 1942 and as president of the People's Court from 1942 to 1945.
Walter Roland was an American blues and boogie-woogie pianist, guitarist and singer, noted for his association with Lucille Bogan, Josh White and Sonny Scott.
Roland (French pronunciation: [ʁɔ.lɑ̃]; Old Frankish: *Hrōþiland; Medieval Latin: Hruodlandus or Rotholandus; Italian: Orlando or Rolando; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became an epic hero and one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France.