Nolan
NOH-lan
The name Nolan originates as an Irish surname, anglicized from the Gaelic Ó Nualláin, meaning “descendant of Nuallán.” The personal name Nuallán is itself a diminutive of nuall, an Old Irish word meaning “shout,” “noble,” or “famous,” with the
affectionate suffix -án.
The original sense was therefore something like “little famous one” or “noble youth.” The Nolans were a sept of the kingdom of Leinster, historically based in County Carlow, where they served as hereditary marshals to the kings of Leinster.
What the name Nolan means
The surname produced figures across Irish history.
Philip Nolan (1771-1801) was an Irish-American horse trader and adventurer in Spanish Texas whose death in a frontier skirmish inspired Edward Everett Hale’s 1863 short story The Man Without a Country.
Sydney Nolan (1917-1992) became one of Australia’s most celebrated painters, known for his Ned Kelly series.
The Catholic Bishop John Nolan and the Irish Republican Brotherhood organizer Michael Nolan also carried the name into nineteenth-century records.
Cultural use exploded in the twenty-first century thanks to filmmaker Christopher Nolan, director of Memento (2000), The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception (2010), Interstellar (2014), and Oppenheimer, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2024.
The name also appears in the long-running television series Smallville, in the Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan (the all-time strikeout leader with 5,714), and in Conor Oberst’s band Bright Eyes through the song Nothing Gets Crossed Out.
Nolan first entered the SSA top 1000 in 1976, riding initial momentum from the baseball career of Nolan Ryan. It climbed steadily through the 1990s and 2000s, crossed into the top 100 in 2011, and reached its current position near 60-70 by 2024.
The name belongs to the larger trend of Irish surnames adopted as American first names alongside Liam, Connor, and Declan.
Contemporary bearers include the children of several US politicians, basketball forward Nolan Smith, and pitcher Nolan Arenado of the St Louis Cardinals. The name balances Celtic heritage with everyday American ease.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Nolan
Nolan - similar names
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity