The first name Rowland
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /ˈɹəʊlənd/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
A male given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Roland.
A form of Roland.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 6 boys were named Rowland, making it the 3,256th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 6 births (#1,765).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Rowland with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Rowland at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 16 boys born in the United States were named Rowland, the 5,798th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1917, when 90 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Rowland
12 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Rowland HillEnglish educational, social and postal reformer (1795-1879)
- 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 Prothero, 1st Baron ErnleEnglish cricketer (1851-1937)
- Nick CassavetesAmerican film actor, director, and screenwriter, born 1959
- Kele OkerekeEnglish singer, songwriter and guitarist, born 1981
- David LangfordBritish writer, born 1953
- Bernard CrickBritish political theorist and democratic socialist (1929-2008)
Questions
- How popular is the name Rowland?
- In 2025, 6 boys born in England and Wales were named Rowland, ranking 3,256th. Its peak was 1996, with 6 births.
- Is Rowland a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 4,279 US babies named Rowland since 1880 were boys.
- When was Rowland most popular?
- 1917 in the United States, when 90 babies were named Rowland, its highest rank at 628th.
- How do you pronounce Rowland?
- Rowland is /ˈɹəʊlənd/, 2 syllables.
- What name is Rowland a form of?
- Rowland is a form of Roland.
- Is Rowland also a surname?
- Yes. Rowland is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.