Nola

Nola is a name of debated origin — it may derive from the Latin Nola, a town in Campania, Italy with ancient roots, or it may be an Irish short form of Fionnuala, meaning fair shoulders. It is also sometimes linked to the Gaelic nollaig meaning Christmas. In the American South, Nola is a well-loved nickname for New Orleans, Louisiana — a city of music, warmth, and irrepressible spirit. For a pet, Nola carries all of that Southern charm and lively cultural richness.

Nola has a warm, melodic quality that carries a little bit of New Orleans in every syllable — there is music to it, an easy Southern warmth and a suggestion of someone who knows how to enjoy life. Companions named Nola tend to be social, spirited, and natural pleasure-seekers, the kind of pet who greets every experience with appetite and makes the people around them feel like the day just got better. The name is charming without being precious, warm without being cloying, and simply excellent in the uncomplicated way of the best things.