Nolen
Boy name · #2368 in 2025 · Uniqueness 78/100
In 2025, 58 baby boys were named Nolen, placing it at #2368 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1740, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,034 boys born in 2025 was named Nolen.
Babies named Nolen per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 133-year story
Nolen first appears in the Social Security records in 1892, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 110 boys were named Nolen — good for #1511 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 Nolen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nolen in class?
Nolen scores 78 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 Nolen will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nolen is most common
State-level data for Nolen is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Nolen
Statistically, parents drawn to Nolen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaylen, Daylen, Rylen, Calen, and Halen.
KaylenDaylenRylenCalenHalenAlenHagenTylen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nolen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 | #2363 |
| 2024 | 61 | #2313 |
| 2023 | 52 | #2541 |
| 2022 | 72 | #2083 |
| 2021 | 69 | #2096 |
| 2020 | 69 | #2046 |
| 2019 | 79 | #1886 |
| 2018 | 82 | #1838 |
| 2017 | 72 | #1977 |
| 2016 | 91 | #1706 |
| 2015 | 88 | #1740 |
| 2014 | 77 | #1884 |
| 2013 | 79 | #1811 |
| 2012 | 93 | #1657 |
| 2011 | 82 | #1771 |
| 2010 | 98 | #1599 |
| 2009 | 110 | #1511 |
| 2008 | 84 | #1775 |
| 2007 | 98 | #1593 |
| 2006 | 61 | #2126 |
| 2005 | 58 | #2114 |
| 2004 | 64 | #1911 |
| 2003 | 45 | #2349 |
| 2002 | 49 | #2155 |
| 2001 | 45 | #2249 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nolen a popular boy name?
Nolen ranked #2368 among boys in 2025 with 58 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1740.
When was the name Nolen most popular?
Nolen peaked in 2009, when 110 American boys received the name (ranked #1511 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nolen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,034 newborn American boys was named Nolen. It scores 78/100 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.