NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Roly

A diminutive form of the masculine given name Roland, derived from Germanic elements meaning "renowned land".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Roly is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Roly popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 5 births.

This profile covers 8 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2018 to 2020. 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.

The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 8 living people in the UK are called Roly. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Roly ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 5 boys were registered as Roly.
  • About 8 living people in the UK are estimated to have Roly as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4608

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

2018

5 births

Estimated living

8

2026

Meaning

What does Roly mean?

The name Roly originates from the Spanish language and can be traced back to the late 16th century. It is a diminutive form of the name Rodolfo, which is derived from the Germanic name Rodulf, meaning "famous wolf". The name Roly was particularly popular in Spain and its territories during the height of the Spanish Empire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roly can be found in the writings of the Spanish playwright and poet, Lope de Vega (1562-1635). In his play "El Mejor Alcalde, el Rey" (The Best Mayor, the King), there is a character named Roly, a farmer from a small village.

During the 17th century, the name Roly gained prominence in Spain and its colonies. A notable figure was Roly de Arce (1610-1678), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula in present-day Mexico.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the name Roly spread to other parts of the world. In the 18th century, there was a Roly Montes (1725-1793), a Spanish naval officer and cartographer who mapped parts of the Pacific Ocean and the west coast of North America.

In the 19th century, the name Roly appeared in literature and art. One of the most famous examples is the character Roly Poly, a plump and jolly clown depicted in the paintings of the Spanish artist Francisco Goya (1746-1828).

Another notable figure was Roly Fernández (1845-1912), a Cuban revolutionary and independence fighter who played a significant role in the Cuban War of Independence against Spanish rule.

As the name Roly spread beyond Spanish-speaking regions, it evolved and took on different forms in other languages. However, its roots can be traced back to the Spanish diminutive form of Rodolfo, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and history associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Roly over time

The chart below shows babies named Roly registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Roly, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Roly
01345201820192020

Decades

Roly by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Roly 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
2020s #4608 3 1
2010s #3412 5 1

Related

Names similar to Roly

FAQ

Roly: questions and answers

How popular is the name Roly in the UK right now?

In 2020, Roly was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Roly most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 5 babies registered as Roly in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Roly?

A diminutive form of the masculine given name Roland, derived from Germanic elements meaning "renowned land".

How many people are called Roly in the UK?

A total of 8 babies have been registered as Roly across the 2 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.