The name Orlando has its origins in the Italian language and culture, tracing back to the Late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Germanic name Roland, which itself is a combination of the words "hrod" meaning "fame" and "land" meaning "land." The name was popularized through the medieval French epic poem "The Song of Roland," which told the story of a legendary Frankish military leader who fought alongside Charlemagne.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Orlando appears in the 14th-century Italian Renaissance epic poem "Orlando Innamorato" by Matteo Maria Boiardo. This work, along with its sequel "Orlando Furioso" by Ludovico Ariosto, helped establish Orlando as a popular literary figure and contributed to the name's widespread use in Italy.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Orlando. One of the earliest was Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594), a renowned Flemish Renaissance composer who served as a court musician for the Dukes of Bavaria. Another prominent figure was Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), an English composer and organist who played a significant role in the development of English church music during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods.

In the realm of literature, Orlando Furioso (1474-1544) was an Italian Renaissance poet best known for his epic poem of the same name, a continuation of Boiardo's "Orlando Innamorato." The name also appears in Virginia Woolf's 1928 novel "Orlando," which explores themes of gender and identity through the titular character who lives for centuries, switching gender along the way.

Moving into more recent history, Orlando Letelier (1919-1976) was a Chilean diplomat and political figure who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense under President Salvador Allende. He was assassinated in Washington, D.C., by agents of the Chilean secret police in a car bombing that also claimed the life of his American colleague, Ronni Moffitt.

Another notable figure was Orlando Zapata Tamayo (1967-2010), a Cuban dissident and activist who gained international attention for his hunger strikes and nonviolent protests against the Cuban government's treatment of political prisoners. He died after an 85-day hunger strike, which drew widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.