Nolan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Nolan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Nolan

A masculine Irish name meaning "descendant of the champion".

Popularity of Nolan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nolan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Nolan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 5,112 male babies and 32 female babies born with the name Nolan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 32 baby girls were named Nolan in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 5,112 32
2022 4,910 27
2021 5,341 35
2020 5,192 28
2019 5,395 36
2018 5,625 29
2017 5,398 28
2016 5,633 23
2015 5,738 18
2014 5,208 20
2013 4,744 14
2012 4,426 12
2011 4,168 16
2010 3,689 12
2009 3,437 9
2008 3,150 10
2007 3,171 15
2006 2,838 8
2005 2,718 7
2004 2,489 19
2003 2,217 10
2002 2,232 8
2001 2,093 7
2000 2,026 0
1999 1,623 0
1998 1,364 0
1997 1,311 5
1996 1,106 7
1995 1,066 0
1994 1,112 5
1993 1,143 0
1992 1,163 0
1991 1,055 7
1990 845 6
1989 617 0
1988 509 7
1987 480 0
1986 479 8
1985 479 10
1984 520 0
1983 449 6
1982 422 0
1981 395 0
1980 329 0
1979 262 0
1978 257 0
1977 218 0
1976 203 0
1975 201 0
1974 167 0

The history of the first name Nolan

The name Nolan has its origins in the Irish language and culture, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the old Irish word "nuall," which means "famous" or "renowned." This name was originally associated with the O'Nualláin or Nualláin clan, a prominent family from County Carlow in Ireland.

Nolan was a popular name among the Irish nobility and ruling classes in the medieval period. It appeared in various historical records and documents, including the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nolan can be found in the 13th century, when a Nolan O'Nualláin was mentioned as a landowner in County Carlow. In the 15th century, a Nolan O'Mulloy was a prominent figure in Leinster, Ireland, and held significant influence in the region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nolan. One of the most famous was Sir Nolan de Nogentel (c. 1070-1144), a Norman knight who played a crucial role in the Norman conquest of England and was rewarded with lands in Cheshire and Shropshire.

Another prominent Nolan was Christopher Nolan (1470-1538), a Catholic martyr and priest who was executed during the English Reformation for refusing to acknowledge the supremacy of King Henry VIII over the Church.

In the realm of literature, Nolan Fell (1724-1801) was an Irish poet and playwright known for his satirical works and contribution to the Irish literary tradition.

The name Nolan also gained recognition in the field of science. Nolan N. Moore (1870-1953) was an American astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of variable stars and celestial mechanics.

In the world of sports, Nolan Ryan (born 1947) is a legendary American baseball pitcher who holds numerous records, including the most career strikeouts and most no-hitters in Major League Baseball history.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the name Nolan throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various fields and cultures.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Nolan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nolan, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Nolan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/nolan-meaning-and-history/.

"Nolan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/nolan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Nolan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/nolan-meaning-and-history/.

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