Roald

The first name Roald belongs to the group of masculine first names and is a Scandinavian and Norwegian short form of the name Rodewald. The meaning of the name can be translated as 'the famous ruler' or 'the glorious ruler.' Its roots are found in both the Old High German and Old Norse language areas.

What does the name Roald mean?

Roald is a short form of the name Rodewald, which is common in Norway and Scandinavia. The meaning is often given as 'the famous ruler' or 'the glorious ruler.' The name derives from two components: first from the Old High German hruod, meaning 'glory,' and second from the Old Norse hró​​ðr, which also means 'glory.' The second element has its roots in the Old High German waltan or the Old Norse valdar, both meaning 'the ruler.' During the time of Harald Fairhair, in the 9th century, there lived a Hroald who ruled over the western Norwegian Firdafylke, according to the old Icelandic Egils Saga. Notable bearers of the name include Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen and British author Roald Dahl. The name also has various variants, including Hróðvaldr, Hroaldur, Roall, Vrold, Vral, Roalde, Rodhvald, Rovald, and Roaldr.

Where does the name Roald come from?

The origin of the name Roald spans Old High German and Old Norse roots, distinguishing it as a masculine first name with the meaning 'the famous ruler' or 'the glorious ruler.' The Old High German word hruod stands for 'glory, honor, distinction,' and waltan means 'to rule, to govern, the ruler.' In Old Norse, hró​​ðr is also responsible for 'glory,' and valdar for 'the ruler.' The name is common in various Scandinavian languages, including Old Danish, Old Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish.

How do you pronounce Roald?

The pronunciation of the name Roald is sonorous and bisyllabic. It is pronounced as 'Ro-ald' [ˈʁoːalt] or [ˈʁoːald]. The long 'o' at the beginning provides a sense of calm and fullness in the sound. The second syllable remains open and is clearly delineated by the final consonant. This combination of a sonorous beginning and a distinct ending gives the name a harmonious tension. Roald conveys a Nordic and dignified feeling - a name that impresses with clear structure, sonorous sound, and calm authority.

Popularity

In Germany, Roald is a relatively well-known first name. In 2022, it ranked 3,813th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best ranking was 1,979th in 2009. Over the last ten years, the name Roald has been chosen about ten times as a first name, placing it 6,380th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it is ranked 5,733rd.

Famous people

• Roald Aas (Norwegian speed skater)
• Roald Als (Danish illustrator)
• Roald Amundsen (polar explorer)
• Roald Dahl (author)
• Roald H. Fryxell (American geologist)
• Roald Hoffmann (Nobel laureate)
• Roald Jensen (football player from Norway)
• Roald Larsen (speed skater from Norway)
• Roald Oyen (television presenter from Norway)
• Roald Poulsen (Danish football manager)
• Roald Sinnurowitsch Sagdejew (physicist from Russia)
• Roald Tweet (American historian)
• Roald van Hout (footballer from the Netherlands)
• Roald van Noort (water polo player from the Netherlands)