That is my name, and in Spanish it is pronounced Roh-Ehl. According to my German friends, they pronounce it Rool. The first time I met someone with the same name as me, I was 30 years old, so it seems to me that it is an uncommon name.
In 2018, 10 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Roel who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 3, 763rd most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.
― Anonymous User 10/18/2018
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It can be short for more than just Roeland. My cousin's name is Roel and in his case it's short for Roelof. [noted -ed]
I've never come across a person whose first name is Roel, but I have when it comes to their surname. I've heard it only in Spanish, pronounced Roh-Ehl. I think it's quite sophisticated, but not as a first name, especially the way it's pronounced. Rool, sounds like a dog barking.