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👍 Nuala
♀ Girl
How to Pronounce Nuala
Pronounced NOO-ah-lah
🔊 Hear it /ˈnu.ə.lə/ Medium ⧉ copy
Meaning: A short form of Fionnuala — from Irish, 'fair/white shoulder' (fionn, 'fair; white', + guala, 'shoulder') Low ⧉ copy
In 30 seconds: Fair/white shoulder: Nuala is a short form of Fionnuala. Lyrical, classic, and warm (said 'NOO-ah-lah').
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Meaning A short form of Fionnuala — from Irish, 'fair/white shoulder' (fionn, 'fair; white', + guala, 'shoulder')
U.S. rank (2025) #12837 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births 7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year 2009
Total births (all-time) ≈ 356
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Shop mom essentials Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data peak 2009 1948 2025 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 Nuala is a short form of Fionnuala — from Irish, 'fair/white shoulder' (fionn , 'fair; white', + guala , 'shoulder'; the swan-maiden of the Children of Lir). A lyrical, classic name (said 'NOO-ah-lah').
In the U.S. it appears in Irish families. Rare, fair-white-shoulder at the root, and classic.
Did you know? Fionnuala means 'fair/white shoulder' in Irish (fionn, 'fair; white', + guala, 'shoulder') — the swan-maiden of the Children of Lir — Nuala is its short form, lyrical and classic (said 'NOO-ah-lah').
Overall data confidence 46%
References — Fionnuala — Irish etymology
Variations Fionnuala Finola Nola
Nicknames —
Famous Bearers Famous bearers coming soon. If you like Nuala… Nola — a sound-neighbor -ola girls' name Saoirse — a fellow Irish girls' name Mckayla — echoes that soft -la sound Neila — another Irish name Frequently Asked What does the name Nuala mean? Nuala is a short form of Fionnuala — Irish 'fair/white shoulder'.
How do you pronounce Nuala? It's said NOO-ah-lah /ˈnu.ə.lə/ — three syllables, stress on the first.
Is Nuala a boy or girl name? Nuala is a girl's name.
How popular is Nuala? Nuala is a rare name in the U.S.
