Nuala
Girl name · Celtic · Gaelic · Irish · Latin
Meaningwhite shoulder · Irish form of Fionnuala
- US rank
- #11,932
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #4,494 in 1965
7 babies were named Nuala in the US in 2025. It has climbed 3,156 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1948–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Nuala you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 227,273 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Nuala, 7 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Nuala would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryNuala first shows up in US birth records in 1948, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 77 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1965, when it reached #4,494.
- TrendNuala has climbed 3,156 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #11,932. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningNuala is an Irish form of Fionnuala, which means “white shoulder”. Our records link it to Celtic, Gaelic and Irish roots.
About the name Nuala
Nuala is a girl name of Celtic, Gaelic and Irish origin meaning “white shoulder”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with N and ending in “-ala”. US birth records list Nuala for girls from 1948 to 2025, in 39 of those 78 years. Its best year was 1965, when it ranked #4,494 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #11,932, with 7 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesGaelic namesIrish namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 1.8 | 571,429 girls |
| 1950s | 0.6 | 1,818,182 girls |
| 1960s | 3.3 | 305,810 girls |
| 1970s | 1.2 | 826,446 girls |
| 1990s | 0.3 | 3,571,429 girls |
| 2000s | 5.3 | 187,266 girls |
| 2010s | 6.7 | 148,588 girls |
| 2020s | 4.9 | 206,186 girls |
More Celtic girl names
- Girl name: Evelyn · possibly desired
- Girl name: Isla · from Islay
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
- Unisex name: Quinn · descendant of Conn
- Unisex name: Blair · plain, field
- Girl name: Olive · olive tree
Questions about the name Nuala
What does the name Nuala mean?
Nuala means “white shoulder” in Irish, as a form of Fionnuala.
What is the origin of the name Nuala?
Nuala has Celtic, Gaelic, Irish, Latin roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Evelyn, Isla, Riley.
Is Nuala a boy or girl name?
Nuala is a girl name.
How popular is the name Nuala?
Nuala ranked #11,932 for US girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1965 (#4,494).