Given name & surname
Nolen
“a champion of the people”
Nolen is a variant of Nolan. One Irish interpretation is “a champion of the people.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Nolen is a variant of Nolan. One Irish interpretation is “a champion of the people.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Nolen is a variant of Nolan. An origin associated with Nolan is Irish.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1892. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nolen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,458
- 3,448 boys · 10 girls
- Most popular year
- 2009
- 110 babies
- 2025
- 58
- #2,381 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 58 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,381 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 20.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 110 in 2009. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,096 as a first name in 2020; 10,314 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nolen’s family of names
Nolen has a related form in Nolan. In Greek usage, Nolen as a surname is a transliteration of Νόλεν.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Nolen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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“from the winding valley”
96% boys · 4% girls