Rowland: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#5,798

among boys · ↑329 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Rowland

How common

1 in 106,755

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1917

90 babies

All-time total

4,279

#1,980 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Rowland popularity over time

4,279 babies have been named Rowland since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	57	6	–	#598
1890s	77	8	+35%	#585
1900s	106	11	+38%	#500
1910s	521	52	+392%	#628
1920s	721	72	+38%	#728
1930s	544	54	-25%	#797
1940s	486	49	-11%	#881
1950s	522	52	+7%	#991
1960s	379	38	-27%	#1,066
1970s	183	18	-52%	#1,854
1980s	153	15	-16%	#2,478
1990s	133	13	-13%	#2,809
2000s	111	11	-17%	#5,479
2010s	161	16	+45%	#4,369
2020s (to 2025)	125	21	+29%	#3,754

The story of Rowland

Rowland is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,798 in 2025 with 16 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 4,279 American babies have been named Rowland. Its peak came in 1917, when 90 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rowland stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Rowland?

The median living Rowland is about 60 years old; half are between 32 and 72. An estimated 1,900 people named Rowland are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Rowland year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	16	#5,798
2024	15	#6,127
2023	22	#4,714
2022	30	#3,754
2021	24	#4,342
2020	18	#5,191
2019	22	#4,612
2018	20	#4,889
2017	22	#4,567
2016	19	#5,098
2015	19	#5,019
2014	23	#4,369
2013	12	#6,941
2012	16	#5,673
2011	–	–
2010	8	#9,501
2009	15	#6,027
2008	15	#6,004
2007	12	#7,000
2006	16	#5,479
2005	5	#12,979
2004	10	#7,418
2003	13	#5,821
2002	9	#7,515
2001	9	#7,402
2000	7	#8,948
1995	8	#6,862
1990	19	#3,282
1985	16	#3,053
1980	14	#3,219
1975	22	#2,120
1970	15	#2,489
1965	41	#1,202
1960	39	#1,266
1955	58	#993
1950	49	#1,003
1945	52	#881
1940	43	#992
1935	54	#857
1930	65	#808
1925	64	#834
1920	79	#736
1915	69	#713
1910	18	#727
1905	5	#1,392
1900	16	#644
1895	–	–
1890	7	#868
1885	11	#598
1880	5	#1,036

Famous people named Rowland

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Rowland Hill Devisor of the British postal system (1795–1879) 18th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Rowland, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Rowland?

The median living Rowland is about 60 years old. Half of all living Rowlands are between 32 and 72 years old.

How many people named Rowland are alive today?

An estimated 1,900 people named Rowland are alive in the United States, based on 4,279 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Rowland mean?

A male given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Roland.

How popular is the name Rowland in 2025?

Rowland ranked #5,798 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 16 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Rowland?

4,279 babies have been named Rowland in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Rowland most popular?

Rowland peaked in 1917, when 90 newborns received the name.

Is Rowland a boy or girl name?

Rowland is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Rowland rising or falling?

Rowland has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Rowland?

Well-known people named Rowland include Rowland Hill (inventor).

Names like Rowland

Names that sound and feel close to Rowland: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Rowland with similar names → More names starting with R →