The story behind Nuala
From Irish: either a shortened form of Fionnuala, alternative form of Fionnghuala, or an alternative form of Úna.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Irish entry
A shortened from of Fionnuala, from Old Irish Finnguala, from find (“fair”) + guala (“shoulder”).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈnuːlə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Irish: /ˈn̪ˠuːəlˠə/
Popularity
Nuala ranked #12837 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Nuala
Nola
From Finola, from Irish Fionnghuala. In the US, also under the influence of the male name Nolan (which see).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ava
A female given name from Hebrew, a variant of Eva.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Cadhla
From Irish cadhla (“beautiful”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Cushla
From Irish cuisle (“pulse”); compare acushla, macushla.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Dara
An Irish saint's name, from Irish Dáire. From Persian دارا (dārā), equivalent to Darius.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Donncha
From Old Irish Donnchad, from donn (“brown”) and cath (“battle”). Compare Scottish Gaelic Donnchadh.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Nuala
Birgitta
From Swedish Birgitta. From Old Irish Brigit. First recorded in Sweden in 1293. Cognate with English Bridget.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Brendanus
From Old Irish Brénainn, from Proto-Brythonic *brɨɣėntin (“king”), from Proto-Celtic *brigantī (“something elevated”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰérǵʰonts (“high”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bríd
From Old Irish Brigit, from Proto-Celtic *Brigantī (“high, exalted”). Cognate with Scottish Gaelic Brìghde and Manx Breeshey.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Nuala
Aeddan
a male given name from Old Irish áed (“fire”), equivalent to English Aidan, Irish Áedan or Aodhán, or Latin Aidanus
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aidan
Name of an Irish saint, Anglicized from Irish Aodhán and Scottish Gaelic Aodhan, diminutives of Aodh (literally "fire", the name of a Celtic sun god).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length