Rolando is a masculine given name of Italian origin. It comes from the Germanic elements "hrod" meaning "fame" or "renown," and "wald" meaning "rule." Therefore, Rolando translates to "famous ruler." The name has been popular throughout history, notably worn by medieval French hero Roland, who fought in the Battle of Roncevaux against the Moors.
The name Rolando gained significant recognition through the 12th-century French epic poem "La Chanson de Roland," which tells the story of Charlemagne's nephew and champion, Roland. This literary figure has contributed to the name's enduring popularity and its association with bravery, honor, and chivalry.
In Spain, Rolando is also a popular name due to the influence of Spanish literature, particularly the 16th-century novel "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes. In this work, the character Don Quixote encounters his fictional counterpart, the noble knight Roland, further propagating the name's popularity in Spanish-speaking countries.
Throughout its history, Rolando has been a versatile name, adopted across various cultures and languages. It has inspired numerous variations, such as Italian Rolando, French Roland, Spanish Rolando or Rodolfo, Portuguese Roland, and English Rowland or Ronaldo. Despite these variations, the core essence of the name remains unchanged: it signifies fame and rule, carrying with it an air of authority and nobility.
The name Rolando has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 78 babies being born with this name between 1967 and 1995. The name's peak in popularity occurred in 1972, 1974, and 1978, each year seeing six births with the name Rolando. It also experienced a notable high in 1980 and 1987 with seven births each of those years. However, its popularity declined slightly between 1989 to 1995, with five or six births per year during this period. Despite these fluctuations, the name Rolando has maintained a steady presence in the United States over these two decades, as indicated by the consistent number of births each year.