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Nola

Girl name · 161 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Nola: 161 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 22 births in 2021.

A name with two distinct possible roots, Nola is believed in Ireland and Scotland to be a feminine form of the masculine Niall, meaning “champion” or “cloud,” while in other contexts it may derive as a shortened form of Fionnuala, the tragic heroine from Irish mythology who was turned into a swan. Though less common in Scotland than across the Atlantic, the name gained some modern recognition through the Scottish-born actress Nola, who appears in the classic film *The 39 Steps*. In the United States, the name is famously associated with the city of New Orleans, often affectionately shortened to NOLA. A sweet, concise choice that feels both vintage and fresh, Nola also shares its sound with the Scottish island of Noss, though the place name comes from Old Norse for “nose” or “headland.”