Jean-Nicolas Boulay (11 June 1837 in Vagney – 19 October 1905 in Lille) was a French clergyman, bryologist and paleobotanist.
He studied theology at the seminary in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, later being named professor of botany at the Catholic University of Lille (1875).
[1] The Jardin botanique Nicolas Boulay at the university is named in his honor.
He was the author of numerous books and articles in the fields of bryology and paleobotany.
[2][3] In addition to bryological/paleobotanioal research, he performed taxonomic work involving the genus Rubus.