Neola is of Greek origin, meaning 'young' or 'new'. It is a variant spelling of the Greek girl's name Nola, which was popularized by the poet John Greenleaf Whittier in his poem 'The New England Toccata'. Neola is a unique and uncommon name, offering a fresh twist on classic styles. It has gained some traction in recent years but remains relatively rare, making it an appealing choice for parents seeking something distinctive yet not completely unfamiliar.
The name Neola experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the course of its recorded history, with a total of 1014 births occurring between 1888 and 2021. The name first appeared in 1888 with eight births that year, followed by seven births each in 1889 and 1894. After several years with fewer than ten births per year, the number of Neola births began to increase significantly around the turn of the century, peaking at forty births in 1918 during World War I.
The highest decades for Neola births were the 1910s and 1920s, with a total of 347 and 365 births respectively. The name's popularity began to decline in the 1930s, however, with fewer than twenty births per year recorded between 1930 and 1939. This downward trend continued into the post-WWII era, with single-digit Neola birth numbers becoming more common from the 1940s onwards.
Despite its decline in popularity, the name Neola has persisted in recent years, with five births recorded in both 2016 and 2021. Overall, the statistics reflect a name that was once quite popular but has since fallen out of favor, with only occasional appearances in recent decades.