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Name Lineage

    The first name Nolan

    A boy’s name from Irish meaning “descendant of nuallán”, “chariot-fighter”, “champion”.

    Pronounced /ˈnoʊlən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Irish origin

    Nolan means “descendant of nuallán”, “chariot-fighter”, “champion” in Irish.

    Anglicized from Irish Ó Nualláin (literally “descendant of Nuallán”), diminutive of nuall (“chariot-fighter, champion”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 159 boys were named Nolan, making it the 283rd most popular boys’ name.

    0100200 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,225
    babies named Nolan, 1996–2025
    #283
    rank in 2025
    2025
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Nolan with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Nolan at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 4,846 boys born in the United States were named Nolan, the 65th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2015, when 5,739 were.

    03,0006,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    136,061
    babies named Nolan since 1880
    #65
    rank in 2025
    2015
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Nolan

    18 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Nolan Bushnell
      American entrepreneur (born 1943)
    • Nolan Gould
      American actor, born 1998
    • Nolan North
      American voice actor (born 1970)
    • Nolan Gerard Funk
      Canadian actor, singer and model, born 1986
    • Nolan Roux
      French association football player, born 1988
    • Nolan Ryan
      American baseball player (born 1947)
    • Nolan Smith
      American basketball player (born 1988)
    • Nolan Mbemba
      Congolese and French footballer, born 1995
    • Nolan Traoré
      French basketball player (born 2006)
    • Nolan Kasper
      American alpine skier, born 1989
    • Nolan Pratt
      Canadian ice hockey defenceman, born 1975
    • Nolan Sotillo
      Actor, born 1994

    More Irish boys’ names

    All 142 names of Irish origin

    Questions

    What does the name Nolan mean?
    Nolan means “descendant of nuallán”, “chariot-fighter”, “champion” in Irish.
    What is the origin of the name Nolan?
    Anglicized from Irish Ó Nualláin (literally “descendant of Nuallán”), diminutive of nuall (“chariot-fighter, champion”).
    How popular is the name Nolan?
    In 2025, 159 boys born in England and Wales were named Nolan, ranking 283rd.
    Is Nolan a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 136,061 US babies named Nolan since 1880 were boys.
    When was Nolan most popular?
    2015 in the United States, when 5,739 babies were named Nolan, its highest rank at 71st.
    How do you pronounce Nolan?
    Nolan is /ˈnoʊlən/, 2 syllables.
    Is Nolan also a surname?
    Yes. Nolan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.