Noel
Gender: Mostly Boy
Meaning: Christmas or born on Christmas Day
Origin: French/Latin
Popularity: Ranked #478 in 2025 with 635 babies born.
History: Noel derives from the Old French 'Noël,' itself from the Latin 'natalis,' meaning birth or birthday, referring to the birth of Christ. It has been used as a given name since the medieval period, traditionally given to children born on or near Christmas. British playwright and composer Noël Coward helped keep the name prominent in the 20th century.
Name length: 4 letters
How common is Noel? About 1 in 4,203 babies born in 2025 were named Noel, or roughly 2.2 per day in the United States.
Explore more baby names at BabyNa.me — 29,000+ names with meanings, origins, and popularity trends.
Loading name...
Frequently asked about Noel
What does the name Noel mean?
Noel means “Christmas or born on Christmas Day” from French/Latin roots.
What is the origin of the name Noel?
Noel has French/Latin origin. The traditional meaning is “Christmas or born on Christmas Day”.
How popular is Noel?
Noel ranked #478 in 2025 — given to 635 babies that year.
When was Noel most popular?
Noel peaked in 2014 with 901 babies registered that year.
Is Noel a boy or girl name?
Noel is used for both boys and girls. In the records, about 77% of Noels are boys and 23% are girls.
Is the name Noel rising or falling in popularity?
Noel has risen 1025 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #1503 in 2020 to #478 in 2025.
How long has Noel been recorded?
Noel appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.