Rising since 1997, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Nuala since 1948
Babies named Nuala per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 58 |
| 1970s | 20 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 99 |
| 2010s | 118 |
| 2020s | 47 |
Meaning & origin
Nuala is a rare Irish name that has seen modest but consistent use in the United States since it was first recorded in 1948. It ranked 11,932 in 2025, with approximately 1 in every 229,610 baby girls receiving the name that year. The name's peak popularity occurred in 2009. While never common, Nuala has been on a gradual upward trajectory since 1997, reflecting a growing interest in traditional Irish names. It is almost exclusively given to girls. Nuala is typically a short form of Fionnuala, a name rooted in Irish mythology through the legend of the Children of Lir.
Nuala is an Irish name, typically a short form of Fionnuala. Fionnuala comes from the Irish elements 'fionn' meaning 'fair, white' and 'guala' meaning 'shoulder'. In Irish mythology, Fionnuala was one of the children of Lir who were turned into swans. Nuala has been used as an independent given name in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nula
Sibling names for Nuala
Names that share Nuala's style, for a brother or sister.
