Nola: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Nola is often explained as a short form of Fionnuala, “fair shoulder,” though its origin is uncertain. Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Gender
- Girl
- Also spelled
- Noleen
How do you pronounce Nola?
Nola is pronounced NO-la. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Noleen.
What does Nola mean?
Nola is often explained as a short form of Fionnuala, the old Irish name from fionn “fair, white” and guala “shoulder,” so “fair shoulder.” Fionnuala has several shortened and anglicized forms, including Nuala, Finola and Fenella. In Irish legend Fionnuala was the daughter of Lir who, with her three brothers, was turned into a swan for 900 years.
The link to Fionnuala is not certain, though. Other name references call Nola’s origin uncertain, suggest it may be a feminine form of Noll, a medieval short form of Oliver, perhaps shaped by Lola, and note that it was most common in Australia and New Zealand in the first half of the 20th century.
Sources: Behind the Name, Wikipedia, Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923).
How popular is Nola in Ireland?
Nola wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2022, when 7 baby girls got the name. It was most popular in 2021, when 8 baby girls were named Nola, No. 464 that year. It first appears in the records in 2017, with 3 baby girls.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7 | No. 502 |
| 2021 | 8 | No. 464 |
| 2020 | 3 | No. 834 |
| 2019 | 3 | No. 871 |
| 2018 | 4 | No. 734 |
| 2017 | 3 | No. 873 |
Nola in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Nola, letter by letter.
- NNion, ash
- OOnn, gorse
- LLuis, rowan
- AAilm, pine
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Nola
Questions about Nola
- How do you pronounce Nola?
- Nola is pronounced NO-la. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Nola a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Nola is a girl's name.