What does Nuala mean?
Nuala is a short form of Fionnuala, “fair-shouldered.”
What does Caoimhe mean?
Caoimhe comes from the Irish caomh, “gentle,” “beautiful” or “precious.”
Nuala vs Caoimhe
Which is more popular?
Caoimhe is more popular than Nuala today: about 24 US babies were given the name Caoimhe in 2025, compared with 7 named Nuala.
| Nuala | Caoimhe | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Fair shoulder | Gentle, beautiful |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | NOO-uh-luh | KWEE-vuh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1948 | 1996 |
| Peak year | 2009 (26) | 2025 (24) |
| In 2025 | 7 | 24 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nuala
Caoimhe
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nuala | Caoimhe |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 47 | 75 |
| 2010s | 118 | 146 |
| 2000s | 99 | 109 |
| 1990s | 5 | 25 |
| 1970s | 20 | 0 |
| 1960s | 58 | 0 |
| 1950s | 10 | 0 |
| 1940s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nuala or Caoimhe more popular?
Caoimhe is more popular than Nuala today: about 24 US babies were given the name Caoimhe in 2025, compared with 7 named Nuala.
What is the difference between Nuala and Caoimhe?
Nuala means Fair shoulder (Irish origin), while Caoimhe means Gentle, beautiful (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Nuala or Caoimhe?
In US records, Nuala first appears in 1948 and Caoimhe in 1996, so Nuala has the longer recorded history.