Nola
Nola is a girls' name of Irish origin meaning “famous, noble; white shoulder.” It ranked #821 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Nola?
NOH-lah
where does the name Nola come from?
A short form of Finola, influenced in the US by the male name Nolan.
Likely a diminutive of Finola or Fionnuala, from Irish 'fionn' (white, fair) and 'guala' (shoulder), meaning fair-shouldered. It also evokes New Orleans, Louisiana (often called NOLA), adding a jazzy, Southern charm.
how popular is this name?
Nola has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 103 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 43. It peaked at #249 in 1894, and ranked #821 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #821 |
| 2024 | #762 |
| 2023 | #739 |
| 2022 | #625 |
| 2021 | #595 |
| 2020 | #553 |
| 2019 | #605 |
| 2018 | #643 |
| 2017 | #744 |
| 2016 | #818 |
| 2010 | #856 |
| 1960 | #789 |
| 1950 | #520 |
| 1940 | #424 |
| 1930 | #381 |
| 1920 | #378 |
| 1910 | #306 |
| 1900 | #288 |
| 1894 | #249 |
| 1890 | #326 |
| 1880 | #333 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Nola fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Nola?
- Nola Darling (Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It character)
what are the nicknames and variants of Nola?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Nola?
what names go well with Nola?
Sibling names that share Nola's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Nola
What does the name Nola mean?
Nola means “famous, noble; white shoulder”.
What is the origin of the name Nola?
Nola comes from the Irish naming tradition. Related forms include Finola.
How popular is the name Nola?
Nola ranked #821 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1894, at #249, and it has spent 103 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Nola a boy or girl name?
Nola is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Nola?
Nola is pronounced NOH-lah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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