The Baby Name Wizard

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Comments and insights on the name Roland: | Edit

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Personal experiences with the name Roland: | Edit

I'm a third generation Roland.
My great-grandmother once told me they chose Roland for Granddad because there weren't any nicknames for it - and they pronounced it "RAH-land." As you can see there are a few in the Nicknames section. My grandfather went by Ron at work and socially. My father was referred to as Ronnie by family, and later just Ron or by a common nickname of our surname. As a kid I was called Little Ronnie by Dad's relatives, and Ronnie or Ron by everyone else.
The first day of Kindergarten I didn't answer the roll call because I didn't know anyone by that name. My mother never once called me Roland. When someone addresses me, I can usually tell if they knew me in elementary school because those are the only people who call me Roland. My sixth-grade teacher lived on our block, so she always called me Ronnie. After that I never again went by Roland in school.

Nicknames for Roland: | Edit

Rollie, Land, Ro, Rollo, Ron, Lanny

Meanings and history of the name Roland: | Edit

It is of Old German origin, and its meaning is "renowned land".

Famous real-life people named Roland: | Edit

Roland Garros, early French aviator and a fighter aircraft pilot during World War I. The French Open was named in honor of this heroic ace pilot.
Roland "Champ" Bailey, American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos.
Roland Emmerich, German film director, screenwriter, and producer.
Roland Joffé, English film director
(Daniel) Roland Michener, former Governor General of Canada.
Saint Roland, French abbot.

Roland in song, story & screen: | Edit

Name of the heroic main character in Stephen King's "Gunslinger" series.

The "Song of Roland", written by an unknown poet, tells of Charlemagne's warrior nephew, Lord of the Breton Marches, who valiantly leads his men into battle against the Saracens, but dies in the massacre, defiant to the end.

Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski, police officer (and later teacher) on The Wire