Nola
Meaning of Nola
Nola, pronounced NOH-luh, originated as the Anglicised pet form of the medieval Irish Fionnuala—derived from the Gaelic elements fionn (“fair, white”) and guala (“shoulder”)—yet it has long since achieved independent status, its semantic purity further nuanced in modern Anglo-American culture by the coincidental acronym for New Orleans, Louisiana (N.O.L.A.), a city whose storied jazz tradition lends the name an understated musical connotation. United States birth data trace a classic bell-curve trajectory: first charting in 1880, cresting in the 1930s, receding during the post-war decades, and then re-emerging as a quiet favorite of vintage-minded parents, most recently ranking 601st with 367 recorded births in 2024. The name’s gentle sonic profile—two crisp syllables ending in an open “-la”—places it in stylistic company with Lola and Nova while preserving a distinct Celtic pedigree. Cultural references, including Felix Arndt’s 1915 ragtime piece “Nola” and characters in works by Truman Capote and Kate Mosse, supply additional, if understated, artistic resonance. Taken together, these linguistic, historical, and cultural layers render Nola a succinct yet richly textured choice for a daughter, balancing antique charm with contemporary versatility.
Pronunciation
British English
- Pronunced as NOH-luh (/nəʊlə/)
American English
- Pronunced as NOH-luh (/noʊlə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Nola
| Nola Hylton - Nola M. Hylton is an American oncologist who pioneered the use of MRI for detecting, diagnosing, and staging breast cancer. |
| In 2007, Nola Ochs became the world's oldest college graduate at age 95, a Guinness World Record held until 2016. |
| Nola Randall-Mohk is an Australian teacher honored with the Medal of the Order of Australia for her dedicated service to multicultural and refugee advocacy. |
