Orlando

Meaning of Orlando

Orlando is a swashbuckling passport of a name, born in medieval Italy as the romantic twist on Roland—“famous land”—and forever hopping continents with a grin. He first galloped through the epic verses of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, then leapt onto Shakespeare’s stage as Rosalind’s quick-witted suitor, and later shape-shifted into Virginia Woolf’s time-traveling muse. In modern pop culture he swings from the rigging with actor Orlando Bloom and basks in the Florida sunshine, where the city that shares his syllables beams like a neon postcard. Pronounced or-LAN-doh in English and ohr-LAHN-doh in Italian, the name sounds like a trumpet flourish—bold yet breezy. Despite never cracking the top of the U.S. charts, Orlando has marched along steadily for well over a century, proving that true charm doesn’t fade; it simply keeps touring. For parents seeking a name that feels equal parts storybook hero, silver-screen heart-throb, and sunny vacation, Orlando packs all that sparkle into three easy beats.

Pronunciation

Italian

• Pronunced as ohr-LAHN-doh (/ɔrˈlandɔ/)

British English

• Pronunced as or-LAN-doh (/ɔrˈlændəʊ/)

American English

• Pronunced as or-LAN-doh (/ɔrˈlændoʊ/)

• Rolando
• Roland
• Armando
• Orland
• Orlin
• Lando