The baby name Nolan mixes a lively Irish spirit with a very American vibe.
Thanks to Carolyn for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME NOLAN MEAN?
We tend to say that Nolan is an Irish name meaning champion. We know that it started out as Nuallán, with the -an suffix meaning “little” or “descendant.” And we know that surnames like Ó Nualláin were in use in Ireland for generations.
But it’s hard to find the original inspiration behind that meaning:
- The first element – nuall – means famous or loud in medieval Irish.
- It could possibly mean cloud fix
- There’s also – possibly – niadhor nïa, meaning warrior, hero, or champion.
That last one is tricky; nia more likely means nephew in Ireland today. But plenty of Irish surnames have been whispered down the alley, and the roots seem to trace back to nia.
It’s possible that Nolan shares roots with Niall, the source of Neil and Neal, as well.
In any case, Nolan became a first name and surname over the years.
NOLAN RYAN
One famous Nolan put this name on everybody’s radar: baseball great Nolan Ryan.
Born Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr., he made his professional baseball debut in 1966 with the New York Mets.
In 1999, the pitcher was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ryan remains among the best known figures in baseball of our time.
MORE FAMOUS FIGURES
In terms of name recognition, Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan is a close second. His recent blockbusters include Oppenheimer and The Odyssey.
Other figures include:
- More athletes, like Major League Baseball’s Nolan Arenado, who plays for the Colorado Rockies.
- Nolan Bushnell created Atari, and later founded Chuck E Cheese. For his work on video games, he’s in the industry’s Hall of Fame.
- 2011 novel turned 2018 movie Ready Player One follows the adventures of gamer Wade Watts. One of the game company execs in the novel is named Nolan. The author intended it as a nod to Bushnell.
- Video games also give us voice actor Nolan North.
- Speaking of actors, Modern Family alum Nolan Gould played Luke Dunphy.
- Actor Nathan Fillion has played John Nolan on ABC’s The Rookie for eight seasons and counting.
The list goes on.
IRISH IN AMERICA
Like many names of Irish origin, Nolan has a long history of use in the United States.
We love a vaguely Gaelic boy name:
- Classic Patrick ranked in the baby boys’ Top 100 from the 1930s into the early 2000s.
- Brian surged in the late 1940s, peaking from the late 60s into the 70s.
- Kevin became a popular name around the same time.
- Parents embraced sound-alike Ryan beginning in the 1970s.
- During the late 1990s, Brendan became a staple.
- Connor became a breakout star in the early 2000s.
- Aidan and Aiden became an unstoppable force during the early 21st century.
For well over seventy years, trends have favored at least a few Irish names, often surname in style.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME NOLAN?
The baby name Nolan has ranked in the US Top 1000 every year since 1899. For most of that time, it remained relatively uncommon.
Then came 1979. Even if you weren’t a baseball fan, you probably heard about the record-breaking contract Nolan Ryan singed with the Houston Astros. He became baseball’s first player to earn a million dollars a year.
As a last name and a first, it’s been worn by many athletes, as well as fashion designer Nolan Miller, who helped define the extravagant look of 80s television staples like Dynasty, and actors, too.
The baby name Nolan jumped from #521 to #465. By 1982, the name ranked #397.
It climbed slowly and steadily since then. Nolan entered the US Top 100 in 2011. It reached peak popularity of #57 in 2023. As of 2025, it’s still near the top, ranking #65.
The name has bee popular elsewhere in the English-speaking world, including Canada and England. European countries like France, the Netherlands, and Belgium have warmed to Nolan, too.
STYLISH & SPORTING FAVORITE
The baby name Nolan picks up on our love of two-syllable, ends-with-N names for boys. They’re current, but feel classic.
It also builds on the sound of long-time Top Ten favorite Noah.
And Nolan’s nickname-proof status might be another plus.
Overall, the name reads sporty and upbeat, but not exclusively so. It’s possible to imagine Nolan succeeding in nearly any field of endeavor.
If you’re looking for a friendly, accessible choice with an Irish lilt, Nolan might be the perfect name for your family.
What do you think of the baby name Nolan?
First published on February 12, 2011, this post was revised substantially and re-published on June 2, 2021 and again on September 23, 2026.
If I had a son tomorrow he would definitely be named Nolan. I love this name so much and I hope to use it some day!
Just wanted to update that we welcomed our little Nolan Curtis on March 10th–and the name couldn’t be more perfect for him!
I quite like the name, and am a bit disappointed (in that weird name nerd way) about its growing popularity. Happy to see the name finding love in a lot of families, but bummed to see it going out to the masses. Oh well, haha.
I also love Nola/Finola so much a girl I know I’d never use Nolan. It was one of those names that used to make my long list, but never the final cuts. And now with a friend with the name, it seems off limits.
I just thought of another positive association for the name: Francie Nolan was the protagonist of one of my all-time favorite books, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
Francie Nolan is where I first saw the name, so I share the same positive association. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is also one of my all-time favorite books–and Francie Nolan one of the best characters in literature.
I personally am very disappointed at the growing popularity of this name. Already it feels tired to me, which is unfortunate because it has positive associations for me. I knew one Nolan growing up who was from a distinguished Southern family. He was a very masculine but quiet and polite sort of young man (which is saying a lot for a teenage boy). I think, because of him, the name has a bit of distinguished charm to it for me.
Not a fan, I guess I’m over names ending in -n, plus when they already start with n, it seems too much. Probably why I never liked Nathan before, Nolan is pretty much the same way for me.
I’m the Carolyn who suggested the name (and is considering it for our son, due in a month!)–thanks, Abby, for the interesting, in-depth look into the name!
We already have a Meredith, and Nolan seems to fit well with that…we think?! It’s kind of a compromise name for us; hubby’s favorite is Lincoln, but I can’t seem to warm all the way up to it. My favorite is Thatcher, but he flat out hates that. Dashiell is something we’ve considered also, but it may be too “out there” for the part of the Midwest we live in.
When I think of a Nolan (I’ve only known one, in college) I picture someone friendly and warm–think that’s what draws me back to this one over and over! I’m not crazy about the “ending in -n” sound…but I can live with it in this case, I think…!
Thanks again, Abby!!