How to say it
NO · lan
/ˈnoʊ.lən/
Masculine
Nolan
Champion
What it means
Anglicized Irish surname Ó Nualláin, 'descendant of Nualláin' (Nualláin probably from nuall, 'famous, noble, champion').
Nolan is the anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Nualláin ('descendant of Nualláin'). The personal name Nualláin probably derives from nuall ('famous, noble, champion'). Like many Irish surnames, it crossed to America with 19th-century immigration and waited a hundred years before parents started using it as a first name. Nolan Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcher, gave it baseball anchor. Christopher Nolan the filmmaker kept it culturally current. It's been in the US top 100 since 2014. Single short forms are uncommon.
Popularity over time
peaked at #57 in 2023, currently #65 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Nolans rarely shorten. Single short forms aren't common.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Nolan Ryan MLB Hall of Fame pitcher, seven no-hitters, 27 seasons
- Christopher Nolan British-American filmmaker, Inception and Oppenheimer (Nolan as surname)
Spelling variants
- Nolen
Names with the same feeling
See Nolan from another angle
By style