What does Nuala mean?
Nuala is a short form of Fionnuala, “fair-shouldered.”
What does Aoibhinn mean?
Aoibhinn means “radiant,” “fair” or “beautiful” in Irish.
Nuala vs Aoibhinn
Which is more popular?
Nuala is more popular than Aoibhinn today: about 7 US babies were given the name Nuala in 2025, compared with 0 named Aoibhinn.
| Nuala | Aoibhinn | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Fair shoulder | Radiant, beautiful |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | NOO-uh-luh | EE-vin |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1948 | 2022 |
| Peak year | 2009 (26) | 2022 (6) |
| In 2025 | 7 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nuala
Aoibhinn
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nuala | Aoibhinn |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 47 | 6 |
| 2010s | 118 | 0 |
| 2000s | 99 | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 | 0 |
| 1970s | 20 | 0 |
| 1960s | 58 | 0 |
| 1950s | 10 | 0 |
| 1940s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nuala or Aoibhinn more popular?
Nuala is more popular than Aoibhinn today: about 7 US babies were given the name Nuala in 2025, compared with 0 named Aoibhinn.
What is the difference between Nuala and Aoibhinn?
Nuala means Fair shoulder (Irish origin), while Aoibhinn means Radiant, beautiful (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Nuala or Aoibhinn?
In US records, Nuala first appears in 1948 and Aoibhinn in 2022, so Nuala has the longer recorded history.