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Home › Baby Names Directory › Nolan

Nolan

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Nolan

Pronounced NOH-lun /ˈnoʊ.lən/High

Meaning: From the Irish surname O Nuallain — 'a champion; descendant of the noble/famous one'; mostly a boys' name; here used for girls; we flag the male leanLow

In 30 seconds: A champion; descendant of the noble one: Nolan is an Irish surname. Mostly male — here for girls (said 'NOH-lun').
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Origin LowIrish
MeaningFrom the Irish surname O Nuallain — 'a champion; descendant of the noble/famous one'; mostly a boys' name; here used for girls; we flag the male lean
U.S. rank (2024)#4843 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births28 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2019
Total births (all-time)≈ 536

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201919112024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Nolan comes from the Irish surname O Nuallain — 'a champion; descendant of the noble/famous one'. It is mostly a boys' name; where it appears for a girl it is rare, and we flag the male lean honestly (slug distinguished; said 'NOH-lun').

In the U.S. Nolan leans strongly male. Rare for girls, a-champion at the root, and modern.

Did you know? Nolan comes from the Irish O Nuallain, 'a champion; descendant of the noble/famous one' — mostly a boys' name; we flag the male lean where it appears for a girl (said 'NOH-lun').
Overall data confidence 34%
References — Nolan — male lean; flagged

Variations

NolenNolyn

Nicknames

Nola

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nolan…

Nola— a kin Nol- girls' name
Nolah— a fellow Nola girls' name
Sloane— another Irish unisex name
Rylan— echoes that soft -an sound
Regan— the same surname-name feel

Explore names like Nolan

By themeuncertainsurname-nameunisexirishnoble
By meaningRoyal / Noble

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nolan mean?

Nolan is an Irish surname — 'a champion; descendant of the noble one'. It is mostly a boys' name.

How do you pronounce Nolan?

It's said NOH-lun /ˈnoʊ.lən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Nolan a boy or girl name?

Nolan is mostly a boys' name; this page covers its use as a girl's name, which we flag.

How popular is Nolan?

Nolan is rare for girls in the U.S.

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