Whenever I drive cross-country along I-80, I see the sign for Neola, Iowa, and I think: “Neola? That could be a cute name.”
And indeed, some parents agree — or, at least they did in 1905. That’s the single year Neola was among the top baby names in the nation. It ranked #952 that year (16 baby girls were given the name).
The town of Neola is located in western Iowa and had a population of 845 in the year 2000. I don’t know how the town came to be called Neola, but the “neo” element may come from the Greek word for new.
2 Comments
Hello,
I googled my mom’s name, Neola, and found your page. My mom, born in 1912, was named for her aunt, Neola Hyder. Mom’s full name was Neola Belle Bass. Her mom was Minnie Belle, daughter of LouizaBelle, a French woman. The name Neola has always been a lovely and special name for me, evoking images of beauty and glamour — like my mother. Any baby girl receiving that name would be blessed. It is so unusual and rare.
Thanks for letting me express my thoughts of my mother.
Darlene
Hi Darlene,
Thank you for sharing this information about your family (and your thoughts on the name). :)
-Nancy