Nolee
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of Noel.
Name Census estimates that about 59 living Americans carry the first name Nolee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nolee today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nolee births was 2003 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nolee. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Nolee. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
59
~ 1 in 5,809,396 Americans
Peak year
2003
12 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2020 SSA rank
#16,862
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Nolee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nolee from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 37 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nolee by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Nolee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nolee
The name Nolee is a relatively modern variant of the feminine name Nola, which has its origins in the Irish language. Nola is derived from the Gaelic word "nuallach," meaning "renowned" or "famous." It is believed to have been first used as a given name in Ireland during the Middle Ages.
In the 16th century, the name Nola was sometimes anglicized as Nolly or Nollie. The variant spelling Nolee emerged in the late 19th century, potentially as a way to make the name sound more feminine or to distinguish it from other similar-sounding names.
While the name Nolee itself does not have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Irish roots connect it to the rich cultural heritage of Celtic mythology and folklore. The name's meaning of "renowned" or "famous" may have been seen as a desirable trait for a child, reflecting hopes for a distinguished future.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Nolee was Nolee Gordon, an American artist and sculptor born in 1888 in Virginia. Gordon's works were exhibited in various galleries throughout the early 20th century, and she is recognized for her contributions to the arts.
Another notable figure was Nolee Woodworth, an American educator and author who lived from 1899 to 1985. Woodworth wrote several books on teaching methods and was an advocate for progressive education practices.
In the literary world, Nolee Fay was a Canadian poet and writer born in 1914. She published several collections of poetry and was known for her evocative and introspective works.
Nolee Trent, born in 1922, was an American businesswoman and philanthropist. She founded a successful real estate company and was actively involved in various charitable organizations throughout her life.
Nolee Michaels, born in 1938, was a British actress who appeared in several television shows and films during the 1960s and 1970s. She was particularly known for her roles in period dramas and costume dramas.
While the name Nolee may not have a long and storied history compared to some more ancient names, it carries a sense of distinction and renown through its Irish roots and the accomplishments of those who have borne the name throughout the past century.
People
Nolee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nolee as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nolee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nolee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 59 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nolee going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 5,809,396 US residents.
Is Nolee a common name?
We classify Nolee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 56.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 60 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nolee most popular?
The single biggest year for Nolee was 2003, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nolee is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Nolee in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nolee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nolee in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Nolee still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nolee in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Nolee can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Nolee?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Nolee, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.