Roald is a Norwegian given name. It is the modern form of the Old Norse name Hróðvaldr or Hróaldr, composed of the elements hróðr "fame" and valdr "ruler, leader". Persons named Roald include: Roald Aas (1928–2012), Norwegian Olympic speed skater and bicycle racer Roald Als (born 1948), Danish political cartoonist Roald Amundsen (1872–1928), Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen (footballer) (1913–1985), Norwegian professional footballer Roald Åsmund Bye (1928–2003), Norwegian politician Roald Bradstock (born 1962), English Olympic javelin thrower Roald Dahl (1916–1990), British author and poet Roald Dysthe (1903–1997), Norwegian businessman and acquitted Nazi collaborator Roald G. Bergsaker (born 1942), Norwegian sports official and politician Roald H. Fryxell (1934–1974), American geologist and archaeologist Roald Halvorsen (1914–2010), Norwegian typographer, Communist Party politician, and World War II resistance member Roald Aga Haug (born 1972), Norwegian politician Roald Hoffmann (born 1937), American theoretical chemist Roald Jensen (1943–1987), Norwegian professional footballer Roald Larsen (1898–1959), Norwegian Olympic speed skater Roald (Løgmaður) (fl. 1450), First Minister of the Faroe Islands Roald Øyen (born 1940), Norwegian television personality and host Roald Poulsen (born 1950), Danish football manager Roald Sagdeev (born 1932), Russian physicist Roald Storsletten (1915–1991), Norwegian journalist and newspaper editor Roald van Hout (born 1988), Dutch professional footballer Roald van Noort (born 1960), Dutch Olympic water polo player Roald, a fictional penguin villager from the video game series Animal Crossing Surname Arnfinn Severin Roald (1914–1983), Norwegian politician