MallowbyNames

Rola

ROH-lah · Of uncertain origin; possibly a variant of Rhoda, meaning 'rose' in Greek, or a Slavic diminutive or an Arabic name.

Peak popularity
1984
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Holding steady

Holding steady.

Popularity of Rola since 1923

Babies named Rola per year in U.S. Social Security records.

471119602000Most births 1984Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1920s5
1930s0
1940s0
1950s0
1960s0
1970s0
1980s59
1990s39
2000s10
2010s44
2020s7

Meaning & origin

Rola is a name of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of Rhoda, a Slavic diminutive, or an Arabic name. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1923, but has never been common. Its peak year was 1984, though even then it did not approach the top 1000. The trajectory has been stable, with very low usage. Rola's rarity makes it an uncommon choice, appealing to parents seeking a short, melodic name with cross-cultural potential.

Rola is a name of uncertain etymology. It may derive from Greek 'rhodon' meaning 'rose', making it a variant of Rhoda. Alternatively, it could be a Slavic diminutive of names like Radoslava, or an Arabic name meaning 'a beautiful woman' or 'vision' (from 'ru'ya'). The name has seen scattered use in English-speaking countries since the early 20th century, but it has never been among the most popular names.

Nicknames & variants

Variants: Rohla

Sibling names for Rola

Names that share Rola's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Lena, Mira, Nora, Tara, Zara

Brothers: Liam, Noah, Omar, Rami, Theo

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

R is for Rola, our favorite little girl.

R is for Rola…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Rola's letter becomes Rola's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Rola's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Rola mean?
The meaning of Rola is uncertain. It may be a variant of Rhoda, meaning 'rose' in Greek, or it could have Slavic or Arabic origins. The exact meaning is debated.
Is Rola a popular name?
Rola has never ranked in the U.S. top 1000 names. Its peak year was 1984, but it has remained very rare, with fewer than 5 births per year in recent decades.
Is Rola a boy or girl name?
Rola is almost exclusively used for girls, though it can be unisex in some cultures.