Nolan
Nolan was the 65th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 4,846 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 57th; the most babies were born in 2015 (5,739). Over the last ten years it has moved up 6 places. More babies were named Nolan in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning descendant of Nuallán (surname) · Irish
Say it NOH-luhn /ˈnoʊlən/
- Rank in 2025
- #65 boys, down 4 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 4,846boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20155,739 babies
- Total since 1880
- 136,061babies recorded
What does the name Nolan mean?
Nolan is an Irish surname used as a first name. It is the English form of Ó Nualláin, 'descendant of Nuallán'. Wiktionary takes Nuallán as a diminutive of nuall, glossed 'chariot-fighter' or 'champion', which is where name books get the meaning 'champion'. As a first name Nolan is a modern transfer from the surname, used chiefly in North America and almost always for boys.
Ó Nualláin (Irish, “descendant of Nuallán”)nuall (Old Irish, “champion, chariot-fighter (per Wiktionary)”)
How sure is this? Probable. The surname origin is agreed; the gloss of Nuallán as 'champion' depends on a single dictionary source and needs a check against an Irish surname dictionary.
Related names: Nolen, Nollan.
See also: Irish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Nolan', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Nolan (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Nolan popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 556 since 1911, 19 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #65 | 4,846 |
| 2020 | #61 | 5,200 |
| 2010 | #104 | 3,689 |
| 2000 | #182 | 2,026 |
| 1990 | #302 | 846 |
| 1980 | #465 | 329 |
| 1970 | #606 | 180 |
| 1960 | #608 | 166 |
| 1950 | #450 | 215 |
| 1940 | #384 | 221 |
| 1930 | #438 | 180 |
| 1920 | #486 | 157 |
| 1910 | #509 | 31 |
| 1900 | #642 | 16 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Nolan, counting every spelling?
Nolan is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #72 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #65 for Nolan on its own. Together these spellings went to 4,875 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan | 4,846 | #65 | 25,157 |
| Nolyn | 19 | #5,151 | 155 |
| Nolin | 10 | #8,062 | 70 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Nolan?
4,846 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nolan (1.34 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Nolan born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is about 1 in 40. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 2 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nolan.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nolan?
About 126,900 people born in the US named Nolan are alive today, with a median age of 13; half are between 7 and 22. That makes Nolan mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Nolan by state
How common Nolan was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Hampshire (2.7×), Wyoming (2.5×), Maine (2.5×), Delaware (2.2×), Vermont (2.2×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Nolan: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nolan, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Nolan · Sibling names for Nolan
Questions about the name Nolan
What does Nolan mean?
Nolan means “descendant of Nuallán (surname)” (Irish origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Nolan?
Nolan was the 65th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 4,846 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 57th; the most babies were born in 2015 (5,739). Over the last ten years it has moved up 6 places. More babies were named Nolan in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Nolan a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Nolan in the US.
Where is Nolan most popular?
In 2021–2025, Nolan was most common in New Hampshire (7.88 per 1,000 boys), followed by Wyoming and Maine.