James Nolan may refer to:
- James Nolan (athlete) (born 1977), Irish athlete and athletics coach
- Jim Nolan (theatre director) (born 1958), Irish theatre director
- James Nolan (author), American poet and writer of fiction
- Jim Nolan (basketball) (1927–1983), American NBA player
- Jim Nolan (Gaelic football), County Cork Gaelic Athletic Association selector
- Jim Nolan, a fictional character in John Steinbeck's novel In Dubious Battle
- James Thomas Nolan (1926–2018), American actor known professionally as James Greene
- James F. Nolan (1915–1985), American actor
- James Nolan Jr. (1918–2004), news announcer and host of Uncle Jimmy's Clubhouse
- Jimmy Nolan (footballer) (1893–1973), Australian footballer
- James Nolan (criminal), Irish criminal whose brother confessed to killing him
- James Nolan (politician), American politician from Alaska
- Jim Nolan (biker) (born 1943), American outlaw biker
- James Nolan (footballer) (born 2005), English footballer