Fun Facts About the Name Noel
- More than 67 thousand babies named Noel: U.S. records list 67,368 babies given the name Noel from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 15,277 girls received the name Noel - about 1 girl for every 3 boys.
What Does the Name Noel Mean?
Noel means "Christmas" and comes from French Noël, from Old French noel (also nael), ultimately from Latin natalis, "of birth," from nasci, "to be born." The Latin phrase natalis dies meant "birthday" or "day of birth"; in Christian use it named the feast of Christ's birth, which became Christmas. So the literal root sense is "birthday," while the name's customary sense is "Christmas." French Noël is also a masculine given name; its feminine form is Noëlle. English uses Noel for the name and the Christmas word, and Noelle as the usual feminine form. It is not a shortened form of a longer personal name; it comes from the word for the feast.
Noel Name History & Origins
The Latin source is natalis, an adjective meaning "of birth," from nasci, "to be born." The phrase natalis dies meant "birthday" or "day of birth," and early Christian writers used it for the feast of Christ's Nativity. In Old French, the word became noel (also nael), the ordinary term for Christmas. English borrowed it as noel, which can mean Christmas or a Christmas carol; the traditional carol "The First Noel" preserves that sense. The variant spelling Nowell reflects an older English form of the same word.
In France, Noël has long been used as a masculine given name, traditionally associated with a child born on Christmas Day. The feminine Noëlle is formed with a French feminine ending, and English has the corresponding Noelle. In medieval England, the name appears both as a personal name and as a surname (Noel, Nowell); the surname could come from the given name or from a nickname for someone born at Christmas. The given name Noel has continued in English use, traditionally for boys, while Noelle is the usual feminine form. The spelling Noël is sometimes used in English to reflect the French original.
How Popular is the Name Noel?
Noel recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2014. Its best rank was #267 in 1938.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,395 | 157 | 0.0098% |
| 2024 | #1,490 | 146 | 0.0091% |
| 2023 | #1,320 | 172 | 0.0107% |
| 2022 | #1,254 | 192 | 0.0117% |
| 2021 | #1,289 | 178 | 0.0109% |
| 2020 | #1,506 | 142 | 0.0088% |
| 2019 | #1,182 | 199 | 0.0119% |
| 2018 | #1,227 | 191 | 0.0112% |
| 2017 | #1,206 | 201 | 0.0116% |
| 2016 | #1,211 | 204 | 0.0115% |
| 2015 | #1,192 | 211 | 0.0118% |
| 2014 | #1,191 | 206 | 0.0115% |
| 2013 | #1,290 | 182 | 0.0104% |
| 2012 | #1,526 | 145 | 0.0082% |
| 2011 | #1,390 | 165 | 0.0094% |
| 2010 | #1,434 | 160 | 0.0090% |
| 2009 | #1,332 | 181 | 0.0099% |
| 2008 | #1,364 | 178 | 0.0094% |
| 2007 | #1,275 | 193 | 0.0100% |
| 2006 | #1,304 | 180 | 0.0095% |
| 2005 | #1,248 | 182 | 0.0099% |
| 2004 | #1,276 | 168 | 0.0091% |
| 2003 | #1,170 | 185 | 0.0101% |
| 2002 | #1,101 | 192 | 0.0107% |
| 2001 | #1,029 | 210 | 0.0117% |
| 2000 | #1,028 | 205 | 0.0113% |
| 1999 | #1,026 | 199 | 0.0112% |
| 1998 | #874 | 242 | 0.0137% |
| 1997 | #787 | 265 | 0.0152% |
| 1996 | #830 | 242 | 0.0138% |
| 1995 | #862 | 226 | 0.0129% |
| 1994 | #876 | 224 | 0.0125% |
| 1993 | #877 | 221 | 0.0122% |
| 1992 | #822 | 244 | 0.0132% |
| 1991 | #768 | 269 | 0.0143% |
| 1990 | #792 | 255 | 0.0134% |
| 1989 | #724 | 273 | 0.0148% |
| 1988 | #634 | 315 | 0.0177% |
| 1987 | #587 | 336 | 0.0193% |
| 1986 | #712 | 252 | 0.0147% |
| 1985 | #623 | 302 | 0.0175% |
| 1984 | #695 | 241 | 0.0143% |
| 1983 | #742 | 221 | 0.0132% |
| 1982 | #862 | 179 | 0.0106% |
| 1981 | #838 | 187 | 0.0112% |
| 1980 | #832 | 188 | 0.0113% |
| 1979 | #843 | 185 | 0.0115% |
| 1978 | #810 | 185 | 0.0121% |
| 1977 | #833 | 180 | 0.0117% |
| 1976 | #859 | 159 | 0.0109% |
| 1975 | #802 | 172 | 0.0118% |
| 1974 | #813 | 166 | 0.0113% |
| 1973 | #770 | 175 | 0.0120% |
| 1972 | #768 | 181 | 0.0119% |
| 1971 | #736 | 204 | 0.0123% |
| 1970 | #738 | 200 | 0.0114% |
| 1969 | #751 | 183 | 0.0108% |
| 1968 | #677 | 206 | 0.0126% |
| 1967 | #607 | 245 | 0.0148% |
| 1966 | #812 | 151 | 0.0089% |
| 1965 | #1,001 | 109 | 0.0062% |
| 1964 | #1,032 | 110 | 0.0058% |
| 1963 | #1,177 | 87 | 0.0045% |
| 1962 | #1,439 | 60 | 0.0031% |
| 1961 | #1,460 | 59 | 0.0029% |
| 1960 | #1,245 | 78 | 0.0039% |
| 1959 | #1,271 | 72 | 0.0036% |
| 1958 | #1,185 | 81 | 0.0040% |
| 1957 | #1,201 | 78 | 0.0038% |
| 1956 | #1,038 | 98 | 0.0049% |
| 1955 | #848 | 132 | 0.0068% |
| 1954 | #998 | 96 | 0.0049% |
| 1953 | #965 | 98 | 0.0052% |
| 1952 | #1,087 | 76 | 0.0041% |
| 1951 | #985 | 90 | 0.0050% |
| 1950 | #999 | 84 | 0.0049% |
| 1949 | #977 | 84 | 0.0049% |
| 1948 | #829 | 112 | 0.0066% |
| 1947 | #778 | 123 | 0.0069% |
| 1946 | #808 | 105 | 0.0067% |
| 1945 | #760 | 98 | 0.0075% |
| 1944 | #923 | 70 | 0.0053% |
| 1943 | #930 | 71 | 0.0051% |
| 1942 | #787 | 94 | 0.0070% |
| 1941 | #785 | 85 | 0.0070% |
| 1940 | #837 | 73 | 0.0064% |
| 1939 | #935 | 57 | 0.0052% |
| 1938 | #909 | 61 | 0.0055% |
| 1937 | #865 | 64 | 0.0060% |
| 1936 | #1,031 | 46 | 0.0044% |
| 1935 | #1,082 | 42 | 0.0040% |
| 1934 | #1,129 | 40 | 0.0038% |
| 1933 | #1,283 | 32 | 0.0032% |
| 1932 | #994 | 51 | 0.0048% |
| 1931 | #1,217 | 36 | 0.0034% |
| 1930 | #1,284 | 35 | 0.0031% |
| 1929 | #1,363 | 32 | 0.0029% |
| 1928 | #1,459 | 30 | 0.0026% |
| 1927 | #2,078 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1926 | #2,134 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1925 | #1,993 | 20 | 0.0016% |
| 1924 | #2,288 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1923 | #4,817 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #2,915 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1921 | #2,892 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1920 | #2,144 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1919 | #2,040 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1918 | #2,176 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1917 | #2,286 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1916 | #2,099 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1915 | #3,066 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1914 | #2,223 | 11 | 0.0014% |
| 1913 | #3,563 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1912 | #2,879 | 6 | 0.0011% |
| 1911 | #2,393 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1909 | #2,453 | 5 | 0.0014% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #478 | 635 | 0.0372% |
| 2024 | #434 | 728 | 0.0424% |
| 2023 | #451 | 686 | 0.0402% |
| 2022 | #425 | 742 | 0.0425% |
| 2021 | #398 | 787 | 0.0450% |
| 2020 | #417 | 714 | 0.0414% |
| 2019 | #395 | 791 | 0.0441% |
| 2018 | #406 | 788 | 0.0434% |
| 2017 | #386 | 832 | 0.0450% |
| 2016 | #381 | 846 | 0.0446% |
| 2015 | #376 | 862 | 0.0450% |
| 2014 | #356 | 901 | 0.0469% |
| 2013 | #383 | 778 | 0.0411% |
| 2012 | #417 | 682 | 0.0360% |
| 2011 | #456 | 587 | 0.0309% |
| 2010 | #478 | 545 | 0.0284% |
| 2009 | #491 | 555 | 0.0280% |
| 2008 | #468 | 592 | 0.0290% |
| 2007 | #442 | 635 | 0.0306% |
| 2006 | #446 | 607 | 0.0295% |
| 2005 | #442 | 591 | 0.0296% |
| 2004 | #454 | 572 | 0.0288% |
| 2003 | #483 | 514 | 0.0260% |
| 2002 | #449 | 548 | 0.0282% |
| 2001 | #422 | 583 | 0.0300% |
| 2000 | #406 | 616 | 0.0314% |
| 1999 | #421 | 562 | 0.0293% |
| 1998 | #454 | 495 | 0.0259% |
| 1997 | #423 | 544 | 0.0289% |
| 1996 | #438 | 517 | 0.0273% |
| 1995 | #438 | 521 | 0.0274% |
| 1994 | #447 | 503 | 0.0260% |
| 1993 | #443 | 495 | 0.0252% |
| 1992 | #434 | 510 | 0.0255% |
| 1991 | #422 | 536 | 0.0265% |
| 1990 | #394 | 588 | 0.0286% |
| 1989 | #390 | 561 | 0.0280% |
| 1988 | #409 | 488 | 0.0255% |
| 1987 | #403 | 463 | 0.0248% |
| 1986 | #388 | 473 | 0.0257% |
| 1985 | #407 | 445 | 0.0241% |
| 1984 | #368 | 478 | 0.0265% |
| 1983 | #376 | 462 | 0.0258% |
| 1982 | #370 | 470 | 0.0259% |
| 1981 | #367 | 475 | 0.0265% |
| 1980 | #376 | 458 | 0.0257% |
| 1979 | #357 | 494 | 0.0287% |
| 1978 | #385 | 413 | 0.0252% |
| 1977 | #370 | 445 | 0.0271% |
| 1976 | #365 | 438 | 0.0279% |
| 1975 | #342 | 501 | 0.0321% |
| 1974 | #343 | 506 | 0.0322% |
| 1973 | #348 | 484 | 0.0311% |
| 1972 | #332 | 537 | 0.0331% |
| 1971 | #305 | 643 | 0.0364% |
| 1970 | #299 | 675 | 0.0363% |
| 1969 | #312 | 601 | 0.0336% |
| 1968 | #298 | 639 | 0.0368% |
| 1967 | #309 | 571 | 0.0327% |
| 1966 | #346 | 469 | 0.0263% |
| 1965 | #399 | 387 | 0.0208% |
| 1964 | #418 | 372 | 0.0187% |
| 1963 | #411 | 384 | 0.0189% |
| 1962 | #396 | 419 | 0.0203% |
| 1961 | #380 | 432 | 0.0203% |
| 1960 | #401 | 390 | 0.0183% |
| 1959 | #373 | 448 | 0.0210% |
| 1958 | #366 | 446 | 0.0210% |
| 1957 | #402 | 377 | 0.0175% |
| 1956 | #381 | 390 | 0.0184% |
| 1955 | #394 | 338 | 0.0164% |
| 1954 | #380 | 351 | 0.0172% |
| 1953 | #377 | 336 | 0.0170% |
| 1952 | #371 | 338 | 0.0174% |
| 1951 | #382 | 317 | 0.0168% |
| 1950 | #384 | 305 | 0.0170% |
| 1949 | #365 | 342 | 0.0193% |
| 1948 | #372 | 331 | 0.0189% |
| 1947 | #348 | 382 | 0.0209% |
| 1946 | #357 | 334 | 0.0206% |
| 1945 | #336 | 318 | 0.0236% |
| 1944 | #317 | 360 | 0.0264% |
| 1943 | #311 | 397 | 0.0278% |
| 1942 | #319 | 368 | 0.0266% |
| 1941 | #320 | 335 | 0.0273% |
| 1940 | #291 | 374 | 0.0323% |
| 1939 | #277 | 396 | 0.0358% |
| 1938 | #267 | 425 | 0.0383% |
| 1937 | #281 | 375 | 0.0352% |
| 1936 | #297 | 325 | 0.0313% |
| 1935 | #297 | 339 | 0.0326% |
| 1934 | #300 | 329 | 0.0319% |
| 1933 | #299 | 318 | 0.0321% |
| 1932 | #318 | 300 | 0.0287% |
| 1931 | #330 | 277 | 0.0266% |
| 1930 | #393 | 214 | 0.0195% |
| 1929 | #370 | 241 | 0.0224% |
| 1928 | #351 | 265 | 0.0239% |
| 1927 | #396 | 229 | 0.0203% |
| 1926 | #422 | 205 | 0.0185% |
| 1925 | #426 | 198 | 0.0177% |
| 1924 | #436 | 196 | 0.0173% |
| 1923 | #447 | 187 | 0.0171% |
| 1922 | #415 | 207 | 0.0190% |
| 1921 | #457 | 181 | 0.0164% |
| 1920 | #414 | 206 | 0.0194% |
| 1919 | #461 | 165 | 0.0168% |
| 1918 | #431 | 186 | 0.0184% |
| 1917 | #409 | 192 | 0.0207% |
| 1916 | #416 | 181 | 0.0203% |
| 1915 | #360 | 223 | 0.0263% |
| 1914 | #408 | 136 | 0.0208% |
| 1913 | #371 | 128 | 0.0250% |
| 1912 | #436 | 80 | 0.0186% |
| 1911 | #451 | 43 | 0.0190% |
| 1910 | #404 | 44 | 0.0227% |
| 1909 | #352 | 45 | 0.0274% |
| 1908 | #328 | 47 | 0.0305% |
| 1907 | #402 | 32 | 0.0218% |
| 1906 | #375 | 33 | 0.0248% |
| 1905 | #320 | 39 | 0.0295% |
| 1904 | #462 | 22 | 0.0172% |
| 1903 | #365 | 28 | 0.0235% |
| 1902 | #453 | 22 | 0.0179% |
| 1901 | #501 | 16 | 0.0150% |
| 1900 | #596 | 18 | 0.0120% |
| 1899 | #411 | 21 | 0.0198% |
| 1898 | #414 | 23 | 0.0187% |
| 1897 | #605 | 13 | 0.0115% |
| 1896 | #662 | 12 | 0.0100% |
| 1895 | #499 | 17 | 0.0145% |
| 1894 | #395 | 23 | 0.0199% |
| 1893 | #638 | 11 | 0.0098% |
| 1892 | #512 | 16 | 0.0131% |
| 1891 | #683 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1890 | #655 | 10 | 0.0090% |
| 1889 | #541 | 13 | 0.0118% |
| 1888 | #576 | 13 | 0.0108% |
| 1887 | #1,016 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1886 | #929 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1885 | #745 | 8 | 0.0074% |
| 1884 | #563 | 12 | 0.0105% |
| 1883 | #1,004 | 5 | 0.0048% |
| 1882 | #634 | 10 | 0.0088% |
| 1881 | #500 | 13 | 0.0129% |
| 1880 | #626 | 10 | 0.0091% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Noel Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Noel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Noel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.