Nolen
Boy name · #2368 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nolen? In official American birth records, Nolen has been tracked continuously since 1892, giving it 133 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nolen is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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 too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Nolen?
In official American birth records, the name Nolen first appeared in 1892 (over 133 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.