Nola
Girl name · #821 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Nola? In official American birth records, Nola has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 331 baby girls were named Nola, placing it at #821 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #769, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,438 girls born in 2025 was named Nola.
The 145-year story
Nola first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 23 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 537 girls were named Nola — good for #553 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Nola per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nola against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nola in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nola is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nola will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nola is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nola is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Nola is most common in MO (0.6 per 1,000), LA (0.6 per 1,000), NC (0.4 per 1,000), GA (0.4 per 1,000), MI (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Nola is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Nola
Statistically, parents drawn to Nola tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nala, Zola, Nayla, Naya, and Nila.
NalaZolaNaylaNayaNilaAilaNailaLeyla
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nola | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 331 | #821 |
| 2024 | 369 | #762 |
| 2023 | 381 | #739 |
| 2022 | 472 | #625 |
| 2021 | 503 | #595 |
| 2020 | 537 | #553 |
| 2019 | 500 | #605 |
| 2018 | 461 | #643 |
| 2017 | 379 | #744 |
| 2016 | 350 | #818 |
| 2015 | 368 | #769 |
| 2014 | 348 | #804 |
| 2013 | 350 | #776 |
| 2012 | 334 | #804 |
| 2011 | 292 | #893 |
| 2010 | 314 | #856 |
| 2009 | 280 | #953 |
| 2008 | 299 | #916 |
| 2007 | 257 | #1027 |
| 2006 | 202 | #1197 |
| 2005 | 104 | #1855 |
| 2004 | 86 | #2100 |
| 2003 | 80 | #2167 |
| 2002 | 59 | #2605 |
| 2001 | 44 | #3142 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nola?
In official American birth records, the name Nola first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 23 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Nola a popular girl name?
Nola ranked #821 among girls in 2025 with 331 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #769.
When was the name Nola most popular?
Nola peaked in 2020, when 537 American girls received the name (ranked #553 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nola?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,438 newborn American girls was named Nola. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.