A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Inola since 1909
Babies named Inola per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Inola's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 8 |
| 1910s | 40 |
| 1920s | 47 |
| 1930s | 15 |
| 1940s | 7 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 8 |
| 2020s | 30 |
Meaning & origin
Inola first appeared on U.S. birth records in 1909, its peak year, and has since remained extremely rare. The name experienced a revival beginning around 2017, reentering the top 10,000 names after decades of disuse. In 2025, it ranked 9,457 with approximately 1 in every 160,727 newborns named Inola, reflecting its continued status as a distinctive and uncommon choice. Its etymological roots are debated, with connections to both the name Enola, meaning 'solitary', and a possible Native American origin meaning 'black fox'. This ambiguity adds to its mystique for parents seeking a rare name with a touch of cultural history.
Inola is a name of uncertain origin, often considered a variant of Enola. Enola is sometimes linked to the Native American (Cherokee) word for 'solitary' or 'alone'. Alternatively, Inola has been associated with the Choctaw word for 'black fox' or 'fox'. The name gained rare use in the United States in the early 20th century, with its first recorded appearance in 1909. It remains uncommon and is occasionally seen as a modern revival name.
“Inola” around the world
Where Inola lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ino, Nola
Variants: Enola
Sibling names for Inola
Names that share Inola's style, for a brother or sister.
