Roald

Roald is a masculine given name of Scandinavian origin, most commonly found in Norway and Denmark, and used in other parts of Europe and North America. In Norwegian usage it is a distinct name, though it is sometimes linked to the older Germanic name Roland. The form Roald appears in various languages and has remained in use into the modern era, especially among families with Nordic heritage.

Etymology: The name is believed to derive from Old Norse elements associated with fame and power, such as rôðr (fame) and valdr (ruler), or from the older name Hróaldr. As a result, the meaning is often interpreted as "famous ruler" or "fame of the ruler." The exact origin varies by linguistic tradition, but the association with strength and prominence is common in its historical usage.

Notable bearers include Roald Amundsen (1872–1928), the Norwegian polar explorer who led the expedition to reach the South Pole; Roald Dahl (1916–1990), the British writer known for children's books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda; Roald Hoffmann (born 1937), the Polish-born American theoretical chemist and Nobel laureate; and Roald Sagdeev (born 1932), a Soviet and American physicist and space scientist.

See also: related names include Roeland, Roel, and Roland; Roald functions as the Norwegian/Scandinavian variant of these names in many contexts. The name remains in use today, often in families with cultural ties to Norway and Denmark.