Nolan

Nolan has been steadily rising in popularity since the 1970s and has firmly established itself as a modern classic. So where did this handsome name come from?

Nolan belongs to a group of fetching Irish surnames that has seen a rise in popularity as a given name here in the States. This gender-neutral moniker leans traditionally masculine and acts as an Anglicized variant of Nuallán, coming from the Gaelic word *nuall* and meaning "famous," "noble," or "loud champion." Suffice it to say, Nolan is a fitting choice if you imagine your kiddo seeing their name in lights—or hearing it cheered by crowds one day in the not-so-distant future.

The Bump community is all in on the name Nolan, too. User piper09 shares, “Our baby was just born Sunday, and his name is Nolan. I've gotten a lot of positive feedback. I only know of a couple of other Nolans.” Of course, other forum members think the name is gaining a little too much traction: “Every time I told someone our boy name (Nolan), they said how much they loved it—but that they know, like, four other baby Nolans who were just born!,” says chattaboxx.

Hoping your child will be into all things sports? Given its powerful meaning, it’s apropos that the name Nolan is common among athletes. Baseball legends Nolan Ryan (a Hall of Famer) and Nolan Arenado, and football player Nolan Carroll are just a few of the sporty Nolans you may recognize.

Fun Facts About the Name Nolan

• A Hollywood classic: Nolan is a popular name in showbiz, famously shared by visionary filmmaker Christopher Nolan (director of Inception and Oppenheimer) and actor Nolan Gould, who played Luke Dunphy on the hit sitcom Modern Family.
• Nolan—the athlete: Baseball legend Nolan Ryan, nicknamed "The Ryan Express," brought massive fame to the name, throwing a record-breaking seven no-hitters during his historic Major League Baseball career.
• Is Nolan for boys and girls?: While traditionally used as a masculine name, Nolan has increasingly crossed over as a stylish, gender-neutral choice, fitting right in with the popular trend of using strong Irish surnames for girls.
• Nolan is a place name, too: Beyond being a first name and surname, Nolan is also a place name, found on the map as Nolan County in Texas and the historic town of Nolan, West Virginia.