Nolan
Boy name · #65 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Nolan? In official American birth records, Nolan has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
Nolan is currently the #65 boy name in the United States — 4,846 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #71, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 371 boys born in 2025 was named Nolan.
Babies named Nolan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 144-year story
Nolan first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2015, when 5,739 boys were named Nolan — good for #71 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nolan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nolan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nolan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Nolan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nolan is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Nolan is most common in ME (8.1 per 1,000), RI (8 per 1,000), AK (7.9 per 1,000), SD (7 per 1,000), NH (6.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 3.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Nolan is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Nolan
Statistically, parents drawn to Nolan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Declan, Damian, Roman, Logan, and Rowan.
DeclanDamianRomanLoganRowanAdrianJulianDylan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nolan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,846 | #65 |
| 2024 | 4,900 | #64 |
| 2023 | 5,129 | #57 |
| 2022 | 4,928 | #65 |
| 2021 | 5,354 | #60 |
| 2020 | 5,200 | #61 |
| 2019 | 5,403 | #65 |
| 2018 | 5,629 | #65 |
| 2017 | 5,400 | #67 |
| 2016 | 5,634 | #67 |
| 2015 | 5,739 | #71 |
| 2014 | 5,210 | #81 |
| 2013 | 4,745 | #86 |
| 2012 | 4,427 | #89 |
| 2011 | 4,169 | #92 |
| 2010 | 3,689 | #104 |
| 2009 | 3,437 | #122 |
| 2008 | 3,151 | #131 |
| 2007 | 3,171 | #133 |
| 2006 | 2,839 | #146 |
| 2005 | 2,719 | #149 |
| 2004 | 2,489 | #161 |
| 2003 | 2,217 | #175 |
| 2002 | 2,232 | #172 |
| 2001 | 2,093 | #180 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nolan?
In official American birth records, the name Nolan first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Nolan a popular boy name?
Nolan ranked #65 among boys in 2025 with 4,846 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #71.
When was the name Nolan most popular?
Nolan peaked in 2015, when 5,739 American boys received the name (ranked #71 that year). Since 2015 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Nolan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 371 newborn American boys was named Nolan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.