
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Orlando
Originating from an Italian version of Roland, Orlando is a male name. The Old Frankish roots Hrōð or χrōþi, meaning fame, and Landa, meaning land are the source of the name Roland. Rowland, Roland, and Orlando are its most commonly used variations.
Roland has been used as a given name in Germany and France since the 18th century. With the Norman Conquest in the late 11th century, the French gave the name to the English. The French likely also brought this name to the Italians, where it was spelled Orlando.
This Frankish name has an Italian interpretation that means “famous in the land.” The name’s most well-known holder was Roland of France. In Roncevaux Pass, Roland sacrificed his life valiantly protecting the Frankish barrier from invading Bretons. Roland’s trademarks featured the drawn sword and shield since he was the prototypical medieval knight.
The names Roland/Orlando have been used in several significant literary allusions. The most prominent is “The Song of Roland,” an epic poem created at the beginning of French literature in the late 11th century. The poem was created to serve as motivation for and a guiding force in the First Crusade and other military expeditions. The poem’s hero is Roland, a brave knight who was the nephew of Charlemagne, the 8th- and 9th-century Frankish Monarch and Holy Roman Emperor.
Orlando has been used in the US for a long time and first appeared in male popularity rankings in the late 19th century. Although never a favorite, Orlando has maintained an amazingly modest level of success, given that it is a name that is not in the English language.
The most notable variations of this name include Roldán, Roly, Roel, Rolo, Rowley, and Rowland. Shakespeare’s comedic play As You Like It features Orlando, the famous fictional figure who is one of the male leads. He is the youngest child and surviving sibling of Sir Rowland de Bois. He is brave, kind, sensitive, modest, intelligent, powerful, and attractive.
How To Pronounce Orlando?
Famous People With The Name Orlando
- Orlando Mack Barnes American lawyer and politician who served in the Michigan House of Representatives
- Orlando BoboAmerican football player, played the position of guard for three National Football League teams
- Orlando BusinoAmerican cartoonist, created cartoons for McCalls, Reader’s Digest and Good Housekeeping
- Orlando ColemanAmerican professional basketball player, played for BC Enisey of the VTB United League
- Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Copeland BloomEnglish actor, known for the character of Legolas in The Lord of the Rings film series
Orlando On The Popularity Chart
Starting from the late 90s, the name has been in a stagnant position throughout the years. Check out the graphs below to learn about its popularity over the years.
Popularity Over Time
This name has encountered several fluctuation in popularity until the early 2000s. In recent years, the usage has gone down further and continued to remain so. Check the graph to know more.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
In the 1980s, the name enjoyed a reasonably good ranking. However, over the years, the ranks have deteriorated. In 2009, the name secured a rank of 20939. The graph below will give you the details.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Orlando
If you are interested in names that sound like Orlando, here are a few more options for you to choose from.
Names With Similar Meaning As Orlando
Are you looking for names that resonate with the meaning of Orlando, check out this list for options.
Name Numerology For Orlando


