NameChart

Noel

Unisex

Noel has been given to 67,380 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 2014 and currently ranks #478 for boys (2025).

Meaning & origin /nəʊˈɛl/

From Middle English Nowel, borrowed from Old French Noel (“Christmas”), from Latin nātālis [diēs Dominī] (“birth[day of the Lord]”). Doublet of nada, natal, Natal, and née.

Origin: French

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025

0225451676901 18801900192019401960198020002020 Girls Boys
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.

Total babies

67,380

Peak year

2014 (1,107 babies)

Rank in 2025

#478 for boys

First recorded

1880

10-year trend

▼ -26%

Gender split

23% girls / 77% boys

Famous people named Noel

Noel Gallagher

British singer and guitarist

Joseph Needham

British biochemist, historian and sinologist (1900–1995)

Noel Valladares

Honduran footballer

Noel Redding

English rock and roll guitarist (1945–2003)

Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).

Names with a similar vibe

Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Noel.

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