Holding steady.
Popularity of Rolla since 1880
Babies named Rolla per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Rolla's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 158 |
| 1890s | 122 |
| 1900s | 65 |
| 1910s | 226 |
| 1920s | 291 |
| 1930s | 173 |
| 1940s | 144 |
| 1950s | 88 |
| 1960s | 39 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Rolla is a rare boy's name that saw its peak usage in the early 1890s, with the highest recorded number of births in 1891. Since then, its usage has declined steadily, and by the 1920s it had become uncommon. The name has remained stable in its rarity, never experiencing a revival. The exact meaning is debated, but it likely derives from Germanic roots related to fame or wolf. Although Rolla has no recorded top states in recent data, it reflects a naming pattern common in the late 19th century when diminutives and variant forms of traditional Germanic names were favored. Its trajectory shows a name that has been consistently out of fashion for decades.
Rolla is likely a diminutive or variant of names like Roland (from Germanic 'hrod' meaning fame and 'land' meaning land) or Rollo (from Germanic 'hrod' meaning fame and 'wulf' meaning wolf). The name saw modest use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States, but never achieved widespread popularity. Its usage declined after the 1920s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rolly
Sibling names for Rolla
Names that share Rolla's style, for a brother or sister.
