Nolan is an Irish surname, the anglicized Ó Nualláin, from the Gaelic nuall, and means "champion" or "famous". Pitcher Nolan Ryan, the all-time strikeout leader, is the best-known American bearer, and filmmaker Christopher Nolan carries it as a surname. Nolan ranked number 182 in the United States in 2000, entered the top 100 in 2011 and has stayed between number 57 and number 71 for a decade, standing at number 65 among boys in 2025.