Nola Girl

Popularity: #627 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: NO-lah //ˈnoʊ.lə//

Origin: Irish; Latin

Meaning: Irish: 'famous'; Latin: 'noble'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Nola has its roots in the Latin word "nola," which means "a bell" or "a small bell." This etymology is linked to the ancient city of Nola in Campania, Italy, which was known for its bell-making industry. The name entered the English language through various linguistic transformations, beginning with Latin, and later influenced by Italian and other Romance languages.

The transition into English likely occurred during the Renaissance, a period marked by a renewed interest in classical antiquity and the arts, which facilitated the adoption of many names from Latin and Italian into English vernacular. Historically, Nola is associated with Saint Paulinus of Nola, a prominent figure in early Christianity who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries.

He was known for his poetry and theological writings, and his influence helped to elevate the significance of the name in Christian contexts. The city of Nola itself has been referenced in various historical texts, and its cultural contributions, particularly in the realm of music and literature, have been acknowledged throughout the centuries.

The name Nola may also have been popularized in the English-speaking world through literary works and the arts, reflecting the city's historical importance. Culturally, Nola carries connotations of harmony and celebration, resonating with its connection to bells, which are often associated with joy and community gatherings.

The name has been embraced in various artistic expressions, including music and literature, where it symbolizes a connection to heritage and tradition. While diminutive forms or variations of the name may exist, Nola itself stands out for its historical and cultural significance, representing a blend of linguistic heritage and religious influence that has endured through the ages.

Famous people named Nola

In this section, you will find notable people named Nola. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Nola who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Nola who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Nola Ochs is a writer and educator best known for being the oldest person to graduate from college in the United States.

Nola Pender is a nursing theorist best known for developing the Health Promotion Model.

Fictional characters named Nola

The following list of fictional characters named Nola is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Nola is a fictional character from the film Nola. She is a young woman navigating the complexities of love and relationships in New Orleans.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Nola, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

NinaNoahNoraNadiaNell

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Nola. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

MonaLolaCoraZolaNinaNoraNia

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Nola was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Nola has ranked as high as #1083 nationally, which occurred in 2020, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Nola has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Nola is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Nola was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Nola.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 331 0 331
2024 369 0 369
2023 381 0 381
2022 472 0 472
2021 503 0 503
2020 537 0 537
2019 500 0 500
2018 461 0 461
2017 379 0 379
2016 350 0 350
2015 368 0 368
2014 348 0 348
2013 350 0 350
2012 334 0 334
2011 292 0 292
2010 314 0 314
2009 280 0 280
2008 299 0 299
2007 257 0 257
2006 202 0 202
2005 104 0 104
2004 86 0 86
2003 80 0 80
2002 59 0 59
2001 44 0 44
2000 50 0 50
1999 37 0 37
1998 31 0 31
1997 36 0 36
1996 34 0 34
1995 29 0 29
1994 32 0 32
1993 32 0 32
1992 25 0 25
1991 25 0 25
1990 24 0 24
1989 37 0 37
1988 24 0 24
1987 38 0 38
1986 30 0 30
1985 34 0 34
1984 42 0 42
1983 61 0 61
1982 65 0 65
1981 53 0 53
1980 38 0 38
1979 58 0 58
1978 62 0 62
1977 65 0 65
1976 47 0 47
1975 40 0 40
1974 39 0 39
1973 33 0 33
1972 37 0 37
1971 69 0 69
1970 66 0 66
1969 80 0 80
1968 68 0 68
1967 65 0 65
1966 99 0 99
1965 92 0 92
1964 137 0 137
1963 118 0 118
1962 148 0 148
1961 155 0 155
1960 168 0 168
1959 252 0 252
1958 144 0 144
1957 159 0 159
1956 206 0 206
1955 195 0 195
1954 236 0 236
1953 255 0 255
1952 240 0 240
1951 249 0 249
1950 247 0 247
1949 223 0 223
1948 210 0 210
1947 252 0 252
1946 222 0 222
1945 231 0 231
1944 245 0 245
1943 291 0 291
1942 263 0 263
1941 279 0 279
1940 259 0 259
1939 273 0 273
1938 337 0 337
1937 294 0 294
1936 300 0 300
1935 286 0 286
1934 307 0 307
1933 281 0 281
1932 301 0 301
1931 300 0 300
1930 322 0 322
1929 328 0 328
1928 330 0 330
1927 361 0 361
1926 277 9 268
1925 279 0 279
1924 320 0 320
1923 312 0 312
1922 335 0 335
1921 324 0 324
1920 306 0 306
1919 343 0 343
1918 390 0 390
1917 307 0 307
1916 301 0 301
1915 320 0 320
1914 227 0 227
1913 205 0 205
1912 211 0 211
1911 168 0 168
1910 158 0 158
1909 172 0 172
1908 144 0 144
1907 142 0 142
1906 125 0 125
1905 127 0 127
1904 140 0 140
1903 131 0 131
1902 131 0 131
1901 93 0 93
1900 129 0 129
1899 106 0 106
1898 122 0 122
1897 74 0 74
1896 108 0 108
1895 111 0 111
1894 118 0 118
1893 90 0 90
1892 62 0 62
1891 78 0 78
1890 60 0 60
1889 69 0 69
1888 54 0 54
1887 55 0 55
1886 51 0 51
1885 39 0 39
1884 34 0 34
1883 30 0 30
1882 37 0 37
1881 32 0 32
1880 23 0 23

Top States for Nola (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 29
9%
LA 21
7%
GA 21
7%
NC 20
6%
NY 19
6%
TN 18
6%
NJ 17
5%
VA 16
5%
OH 15
5%
PA 15
5%
CA 14
4%
FL 14
4%
MI 13
4%
AL 10
3%
WI 10
3%
IL 9
3%
MA 8
2%
IA 8
2%
IN 7
2%
WA 6
2%
MD 6
2%
MO 6
2%
KY 5
2%
MN 5
2%
SC 5
2%
MS 5
2%