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At a Glance: Name: Nola – Meaning: fair shoulder (short form of Fionnuala); sometimes linked to 'famous/noble' via Nolan – Origin: Irish – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: NOH-lah
Nola is a short, easy-to-say Irish name pronounced NOH-lah. You'll sometimes see it listed as meaning 'famous' or 'noble,' but that gloss actually belongs to the name Nolan; Nola is more properly a short form of Fionnuala, meaning 'fair shoulder.' It fits comfortably alongside both classic Irish names and pared-down modern picks.
Meaning & Origin of Nola
Meaning: Fair shoulder (short form of fionnuala); sometimes linked to 'famous/noble' via nolan.
Origin: Irish.
A common claim: Commonly listed as meaning 'famous' or 'noble' Actually: That gloss actually comes from the male name Nolan, not Nola's more direct root; Nola is more properly a short form of Fionnuala, meaning 'fair shoulder'.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Nola
Phonetic: NOH-lah IPA: /ˈnoʊlə/
Popularity of Nola
Nola reached its highest point in 1894, when it ranked #254 with 118 babies given the name; in 2024 it sat at #766 with 367 babies, so more girls are named Nola today than at its historical peak, even though its rank is lower.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Nola Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Nola, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Nola mean?
Fair shoulder (short form of fionnuala); sometimes linked to ‘famous/noble’ via nolan. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Nola)
How do you pronounce Nola?
Nola is pronounced NOH-lah (IPA: /ˈnoʊlə/).
Is Nola a popular name right now?
Nola peaked at #254 in 1894 and is ranked #766 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Nola? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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