
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Noel
Noel or Noël is an English masculine name that originated from the Old French word “nael”, meaning “born on Christmas.” Nael is derived from the Latin phrase “natalis dies,” which translates to “day of birth” and refers to the birthday of Jesus Christ. Later, this phrase became “Nowel” in Medieval English. In contemporary English, a Christmas song can also be referred to as a Noel. Since the Medieval Ages, both boys and girls have been given the name Noel at this festival.
From the 12th century, the names Noel and Nol have been used both as given names and surnames. The majority of the name’s early baptisms took place in December or early January, and it has historically been given to infants born around Christmas.
Since the US government began keeping track of name trends in 1880, Noel has consistently ranked high on the American male naming rankings. Although Noel appeared on the US female naming lists between 1932 and 1998, it has mostly been used as a boy’s name. For young girls nowadays, Noelle is the recommended spelling.
Girls with the name Noel may go by the nicknames Noele, Noeline, Nowell, Noela, Noella, Noelene, or Noeleen, as well as the French-specific feminine versions, which are distinguished by adding the letter “le” to the end of the name.
The multi-talented Noël Coward who bore this name was born in England and was a well-known playwright, director, and actor recognized for his flamboyant manner and sharp humor. He was a cultural icon in the 20th century.
Le Petit Noel, sometimes known as Noel, is a supporting character in the Belgian comic book series Spirou et Fantasio. Noel Kannagi is a character from the Japanese animated television series Sound of the Sky, which was created by A-1 Pictures and Aniplex under the direction of Mamoru Kanbe. The 12-episode animation was simultaneously streamed on Crunchyroll and the Japanese TV Tokyo network.
How To Pronounce Noel?
Famous People With The Name Noel
- Noel Anthony ClarkeBritish actor and filmmaker, received critical acclaim for writing, directing, and starring as Sam Peel in the film Kidulthood
- Noel FieldingEnglish actor and comedian, known for his dark and surreal comedic style
- Noel Frances SweeneyAmerican stage and screen actress, started her acting career on the Broadway stage in the mid-1920s
- Noel Darleen NeillAmerican actress, played in films like Superman and Atom Man vs. Superman
- Noel ToyAmerican burlesque performer famous for her fan dance and bubble dance, who also appeared in several films.
Noel On The Popularity Chart
Noel has been in an almost stagnant position in the US popularity chart throughout the decades. Let us have a look at the graph to know more.
Popularity Over Time
From 1980 to 2021, the popularity of Noel remained almost the same. However, a slight peak may be seen in 2014, when 900 babies per million were given the name. Check the graph to know more.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name enjoyed a fairly good ranking in the early 1980s. However, its position declined significantly after this. In 2021, it attained a rank of 17941. The graph below gives the details.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound For Noel
If you are looking to explore more names that sound like Noel, here are some suggestions.
Names With Similar Meaning For Noel
If you want a name that means the same as Noel but sounds different, take a look at the options listed below.
Name Numerology For Noel


