A waveguide polarization rotator (200) includes an optical waveguide (210) and an overlay strip (220). The optical waveguide (210) has an input end and an output end oppositely disposed thereon. The optical waveguide (210) is operable to receive, at the input end, an input optical signal having a mode having an input polarization. The optical waveguide (210) is further operable to generate, at the output end, an output optical signal having an output polarization orthogonal to the input polarization. The overlay strip (220) is disposed over and non-orthogonally crosses the optical waveguide (210). The overlay strip (220) has a first end laterally offset from the optical waveguide (210) by a first offset distance and a second end laterally offset from the optical waveguide (210) by a second offset distance.