Nola
How to say it: NOH-luh · /ˈnoʊlə/
Irish short form of Fionnuala ('fair shoulder') or from Latin place name Nola (Campania, Italy); also linked to 'noble'.
Nola was the 761st most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 331 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1900s, its births are down about 10% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #894 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #761 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 331 |
| Share of births | 1 in 10,016 |
| Peak decade | 1900s |
| Change over 10 years | −10% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #894 |
| In France, 2025 | #590 among girls’ names, 60 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Once a regular in the 1900s, Nola nearly vanished by the 1990s before returning. It remains well below its early high and looks set to soften again.
What goes with it
Soft and lilting across two syllables, it has a mellow murmur. Cora and Willa share its vintage charm.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Nola is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Irish.
In France: #590 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #278.
Famous people named Nola
- Nola Rae (born 1949)Australian mime artist
- Nola Luxford (1901–1994)New Zealand actress
- Nola Hatterman (1899–1984)Dutch actress, teacher and artist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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