Nuala: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Nuala is an Irish girl's name meaning “fair-shouldered.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Fair-shouldered
- Gender
- Girl
How do you pronounce Nuala?
Nuala is pronounced NOO-la. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first.
What does Nuala mean?
It is really a shortened version of Fionnuala and in Ireland it is more widely used than Fionnuala. Meaning “fair shouldered, exceptionally lovely,” the name has been in existence since the 13th century.
How popular is Nuala in Ireland?
Nuala wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2024, when 3 baby girls got the name. It was most popular in 1965, when 91 baby girls were named Nuala, No. 71 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 68 baby girls were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | No. 898 |
| 2023 | 3 | No. 856 |
| 2022 | 5 | No. 634 |
| 2021 | 4 | No. 764 |
| 2012 | 3 | No. 907 |
| 2011 | 3 | No. 937 |
| 2010 | 4 | No. 758 |
| 2008 | 4 | No. 750 |
| 1999 | 5 | No. 392 |
| 1998 | 4 | No. 425 |
| 1997 | 4 | No. 496 |
| 1996 | 7 | No. 356 |
| 1995 | 9 | No. 310 |
| 1994 | 6 | No. 374 |
| 1993 | 10 | No. 300 |
| 1992 | 3 | No. 523 |
| 1991 | 10 | No. 300 |
| 1990 | 8 | No. 336 |
| 1989 | 14 | No. 250 |
| 1988 | 15 | No. 252 |
| 1987 | 11 | No. 296 |
| 1986 | 18 | No. 220 |
| 1985 | 19 | No. 227 |
| 1984 | 16 | No. 242 |
| 1983 | 28 | No. 187 |
| 1982 | 30 | No. 185 |
| 1981 | 36 | No. 180 |
| 1980 | 44 | No. 159 |
| 1979 | 47 | No. 153 |
| 1978 | 46 | No. 147 |
| 1977 | 41 | No. 164 |
| 1976 | 36 | No. 167 |
| 1975 | 50 | No. 145 |
| 1974 | 59 | No. 129 |
| 1973 | 77 | No. 112 |
| 1972 | 67 | No. 118 |
| 1971 | 86 | No. 100 |
| 1970 | 71 | No. 110 |
| 1969 | 63 | No. 111 |
| 1968 | 90 | No. 78 |
| 1967 | 66 | No. 100 |
| 1966 | 68 | No. 93 |
| 1965 | 91 | No. 71 |
| 1964 | 68 | No. 90 |
Nuala 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 Nuala, letter by letter.
- NNion, ash
- UÚr, heather
- AAilm, pine
- LLuis, rowan
- AAilm, pine
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Nuala
Questions about Nuala
- How do you pronounce Nuala?
- Nuala is pronounced NOO-la. Two syllables, stress on the first. There's a short video above where you can hear it said.
- What does Nuala mean?
- Nuala means “fair-shouldered.”
- Is Nuala a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Nuala is a girl's name.