US Popularity Rank: 99

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Famous; Noble

Nolan belongs to a group of fetching Irish surnames that have seen a rise in popularity and usage as first names on the other side of the Atlantic. This gender-neutral name acts as a variant of Nuallán, coming from the word nuall and meaning "famous" or "noble." This can be a great choice if you imagine your little one seeing their name in lights one day. Because of this meaning, it’s only fitting that the name Nolan is popular with athletes. Baseball players Nolan Ryan (a Hall of Famer) and Nolan Arenado, and football player Nolan Carroll are just a few that come to mind. Nolan has been steadily rising in popularity since the 1970s. Alternate spellings include Nolin, Noland, and Nolen.