Boy, Noelle and Noella are the usual forms for girls. · French (from Latin) · Christian
Noel
NoelSay it NOH-el
- Meaning today
- Christmas, born on Christmas Day
- Original meaning
- "Christmas; from Latin natalis, 'birthday'" Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, s.v. Noel; s.v. Nowel
- Say it
- NOH-el
- Other spellings
- Noël, Nowell
Noel
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Noel meaning
Noel is a Christian boy's name of French origin (from Latin).
Christmas; from Latin natalis, 'birthday'
Also used to mean: born on Christmas Day
Noel is the French word for Christmas, noël, which comes from Latin natalis, 'birthday', meaning the birthday of Christ. Webster's 1913 dictionary treats it as the same word as old English nowel, a cry of joy at Christmas and the name for a carol sung in honour of the Nativity. In medieval Europe the name was given to children born at Christmas, and it is still given to babies born in December. Indian Christian families, from Kerala to Goa and Mangalore, use Noel for boys, while Noelle and Noella are the usual forms for girls.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), s.v. Noel; s.v. Nowel · entry Noel · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Webster's 1913, Noel · Webster's 1913, Nowel · Lewis & Short, natalis (alatius.com)
Famous namesakes
- Noel Coward, English playwright and composer
Popularity abroad
- #478 United States, boys 2025 (down 44 from 434 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #593 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Noel · Noël · Nowell