UK boy's name
Roald
A Scandinavian masculine name of uncertain origin, potentially meaning "illustrious ruler".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Roald is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Roald popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3849, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2005 to 2005. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Roald is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Roald. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2006 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Roald ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales in 2005, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 3 boys were registered as Roald.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Roald as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3849
2005
Births in 2005
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Roald mean?
The name Roald is of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse name Rögnvaldr. It is composed of the elements "rögn" meaning "counsel" or "decision" and "valdr" meaning "ruler" or "wielder". The name essentially means "famous ruler" or "renowned counselor".
This name has its roots in the Viking Age, when Scandinavian influence spread across Europe through conquest and exploration. The Vikings were known for their seafaring prowess and their impact on various cultures they encountered. The name Roald would have been borne by Norsemen of high status or distinction.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roald appears in the Icelandic Sagas, which recount the stories and histories of the Norse people. The Saga of Burnt Njal, written around the 13th century, mentions a character named Rögnvaldr Brúsason, who was a prominent chieftain in the Faroe Islands.
In the Middle Ages, the name Roald was particularly popular in Scandinavia and parts of Britain. Roald de Richmunde, an Anglo-Norman nobleman born around 1170, is one of the earliest recorded individuals with this name in England. He held lands in Yorkshire and served as a knight under King John.
Another notable figure was Roald Amundsen, the famous Norwegian explorer who led the first expedition to reach the South Pole in 1911. He was also the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. Amundsen lived from 1872 to 1928 and his achievements cemented his place in the annals of polar exploration.
In literature, the name Roald gained widespread recognition through the works of Roald Dahl, the beloved British author of children's books. Born in 1916 and passing away in 1990, Dahl penned classics such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Matilda," and "The BFG," entertaining generations of young readers with his whimsical storytelling.
Another prominent individual with this name was Roald Hoffman, an American theoretical chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1981 for his work on the course of chemical reactions. He was born in 1937 and has made significant contributions to the field of chemistry throughout his career.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Roald by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Roald was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Roald
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Roald: questions and answers
How popular is the name Roald in the UK right now?
In 2005, Roald was ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Roald most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 3 babies registered as Roald in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Roald?
A Scandinavian masculine name of uncertain origin, potentially meaning "illustrious ruler".
How many people are called Roald in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Roald across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.