Nadolyn
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially combining elements meaning "hope" and "pretty".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Nadolyn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nadolyn today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nadolyn births was 1956 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nadolyn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Nadolyn is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Nadolyns were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Nadolyn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1956
8 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1956 SSA rank
#4,717
Tracked since 1956
Popularity
Nadolyn: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Nadolyn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Nadolyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 | 8 | 8 |
Geography
Where Nadolyns live
Origin
Meaning and history of Nadolyn
The name Nadolyn is believed to have originated from the ancient Gaelic language spoken by the Celts in parts of what is now Ireland and Scotland. It is thought to be derived from the words "nad" meaning "toad" and "lyn" meaning "pool" or "lake," suggesting a possible connection to nature or a particular geographic location.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nadolyn can be traced back to the 9th century, where it appeared in an Irish manuscript detailing the lives of saints and religious figures. While the specific individual referenced in the text is not entirely clear, it suggests that the name had some significance within early Christian communities in the region.
During the Middle Ages, the name Nadolyn gained popularity among certain noble families in Ireland and Scotland. Notably, Nadolyn of Argyll, a Scottish noblewoman born in 1145, played a role in the political dynamics of the time, serving as a trusted advisor to King David I of Scotland.
In the 16th century, Nadolyn MacLeod, born in 1523, was a prominent figure in the Scottish clan system, known for her leadership and commitment to preserving the traditions of her clan. Her legacy continues to be celebrated in certain areas of Scotland to this day.
Moving into more recent times, Nadolyn Beresford-Ash, born in 1825, was a renowned British botanist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in various parts of the world, including Africa and South America.
Another noteworthy individual bearing the name Nadolyn was Nadolyn Cromwell, born in 1892, an American suffragist and advocate for women's rights. She played an active role in the fight for women's suffrage and was a vocal supporter of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
While the name Nadolyn has seen periods of relative obscurity throughout history, its unique origins and connection to ancient Celtic cultures continue to captivate those interested in the study of onomastics and the preservation of cultural heritage.
People
Nadolyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nadolyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nadolyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nadolyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nadolyn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Nadolyn a common name?
We classify Nadolyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 8 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nadolyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Nadolyn was 1956, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nadolyn is about 67 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Nadolyn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nadolyn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nadolyn in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Nadolyn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nadolyn in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Nadolyn can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Nadolyn?
Want to know how many Americans are named Nadolyn? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.