Nola
Girl name · #821 in 2025 · Uniqueness 71/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nola against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nola in class?
Nola scores 71 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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. In 2025 the states with the most Nolas were TX (23), NC (20), GA (18), NY (17), CA (16). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 71/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.