The nameNoel
Noel is a boy's name of French origin meaning "Christmas". It was given to boys born at Christmas.
- Boy's name
- French
- Feast day
Meaning
Noel comes from the French Noël, "Christmas", from the Latin natalis dies, "day of birth".
Origin
French. Noël has been used since the Middle Ages for children born on Christmas Day.
History
Noel Coward, the playwright, and Noel Gallagher, of Oasis, are famous bearers. It reached the American top 270.
Did you know?
- Noel Gallagher wrote Wonderwall and most of Oasis's other hits.
Famous people named Noel
- Noël Coward, playwright
- Noel Gallagher, musician
- Noel Fielding, comedian
Popularity of the name Noel
Noel in the United States
Noel was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 9,476 births over the decade, 14% of all recorded babies named Noel. Its rise began around 1913, and it peaked in 2014. Half of all babies named Noel in the United States were born before 1984, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 897 births a year.
Noel in the United Kingdom
Noel was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 1,104 births over the decade, 51% of all recorded babies named Noel. Half of all babies named Noel in the United Kingdom were born before 2015, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 79 births a year on average, against 113 in the five years before.
Noel in Ireland
Noel in France
Noel in Switzerland
Noel in Austria
Noel in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Noel
Names from the same generation as Noel, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Noel? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Noel with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Noel side by side with the name of your choice.
Noel in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Noel mean?
Noel comes from the French Noël, "Christmas", from the Latin natalis dies, "day of birth".
What is the origin of the name Noel?
French. Noël has been used since the Middle Ages for children born on Christmas Day.
Is Noel a girl's or a boy's name?
Noel is a boy's name. In the United States, 23% of the babies named Noel are girls.
How popular is the name Noel?
In 2024, Noel was the 433rd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 728 births.
What are the variants of the name Noel?
Variants and related names of Noel include Naël, Noëla, Noélie, Noéline, Noella and Noelle.
What are good sibling names for Noel?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Elise, Sylvia, Joy and Eve for a sister, Ali, Franklin, Leroy and Simon for a brother.
Who are famous people named Noel?
Noël Coward, playwright; Noel Gallagher, musician; Noel Fielding, comedian.