Entry № 4970 · Other origin

Nuala Nuala — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ NOO-lah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Other
Meaning
"White shoulder (Irish + Fionnuala Children of Lir)"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Medieval (Irish)

A name that means "white shoulder (irish + fionnuala children of lir)".

Nuala is from the Irish Nuala — foundational shortened form of Fionnuala + foundational from Irish fionn (white/fair) + guala (shoulder) — fair shoulder. A modern American baby name in the broader Irish-Celtic mythological heritage aesthetic. Nuala is one of the foundational Irish feminine names — central to traditional Irish mythological heritage. The foundational name connects to foundational Fionnuala — foundational central character in foundational Children of Lir (Oidheadh Chloinne Lir) — foundational one of foundational Three Sorrows of Storytelling of Irish mythology + foundational eldest daughter of foundational King Lir + foundational transformed into foundational swan with her three brothers (foundational Aodh + Fiachra + Conn) by foundational stepmother Aoife for foundational 900 years + foundational central to foundational Irish seanchaí (storytelling) heritage + foundational subject of foundational ~50+ Irish operas + ballets + foundational Hans Werner Henze's L'Upupa und der Triumph der Sohnesliebe 2003; foundational also Nuala O'Faolain (1940-2008) foundational Irish journalist + memoirist + foundational Are You Somebody? 1996 bestseller. Foundational Irish feminine name reflecting Celtic mythological heritage.

Featured throughout Irish heritage.

White shoulder (Irish). Foundational Irish-Celtic feminine + foundational shortened form of Fionnuala + foundational from Irish fionn white/fair + guala shoulder + foundational Fionnuala foundational central character in Children of Lir Oidheadh Chloinne Lir + foundational one of Three Sorrows of Storytelling of Irish mythology + foundational eldest daughter of King Lir + foundational transformed into swan with her three brothers Aodh + Fiachra + Conn by stepmother Aoife for 900 years + foundational Irish seanchaí storytelling heritage + foundational ~50+ Irish operas + ballets + foundational Hans Werner Henze's L'Upupa und der Triumph der Sohnesliebe 2003 + foundational Nuala O'Faolain 1940-2008 foundational Irish journalist + memoirist + foundational Are You Somebody? 1996 bestseller.

The name in its native script.

Nuala
Transliteration
Nuala
Pronunciation
/ ˈnuː.lə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Nuala stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Nuala · last year
88 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Nualas before her.

Real people
Nuala O'Faolain
Irish journalist + memoirist + Are You Somebody? 1996 bestseller.
1940 – 2008
In fiction
Fionnuala
Eldest daughter of King Lir + transformed into swan + Three Sorrows of Storytelling + Children of Lir.
Children of Lir

Names connected to Nuala.

The number behind Nuala.

5

The Free Spirit

Nuala reduces to five.

Why families chose this name.

"Irish white shoulder. Five letters. Nuala."
Delyth · Mother of one · Galway