Noel Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Noel is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Noel?
Noel is spelled N-O-E-L. The name has 4 letters.
Noel at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Noel derives from the Old French word for “Christmas,” which in turn stems from the Latin term “natalis,” meaning “birth.”
- Origin
- Noel is associated with Old French origin, where it referred to the Christmas season and was later adopted as a given name.
- Pronunciation
- noh-EL · 2 syllables
Noel Popularity in 2025
Rank#1,388
Recorded Births157
Rank#478
Recorded Births635
- Girls usage rose 69 places to #1,388 and recorded 7 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 44 places to #478 and recorded 96 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Noel Mean?
Noel derives from the Old French word for “Christmas,” which in turn stems from the Latin term “natalis,” meaning “birth.”
Origin: Noel is associated with Old French origin, where it referred to the Christmas season and was later adopted as a given name.
How Do You Pronounce Noel?
Pronunciationnoh-EL
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Noel?
- History
- The name Noel has been used in Christian contexts due to its connection to Christmas, and appears in European records from the Middle Ages.
Noel Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 157 | #1,388 |
| 2025 | Boys | 635 | #478 |
| 2024 | Girls | 150 | #1,457 |
| 2024 | Boys | 731 | #434 |
| 2023 | Girls | 173 | #1,310 |
| 2023 | Boys | 686 | #451 |
| 2022 | Girls | 192 | #1,251 |
| 2022 | Boys | 743 | #425 |
| 2021 | Girls | 178 | #1,288 |
| 2021 | Boys | 787 | #397 |
| 2020 | Girls | 142 | #1,503 |
| 2020 | Boys | 714 | #416 |
| 2019 | Girls | 199 | #1,180 |
| 2019 | Boys | 791 | #395 |
| 2018 | Girls | 192 | #1,219 |
| 2018 | Boys | 789 | #405 |
| 2017 | Girls | 201 | #1,204 |
| 2017 | Boys | 832 | #386 |
| 2016 | Girls | 204 | #1,210 |
| 2016 | Boys | 846 | #381 |
| 2015 | Girls | 212 | #1,190 |
| 2015 | Boys | 862 | #375 |
| 2014 | Girls | 206 | #1,186 |
| 2014 | Boys | 901 | #356 |
When Was Noel Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2014 · Boys
901 recorded births
National rank #356
2015 · Boys
862 recorded births
National rank #375
2016 · Boys
846 recorded births
National rank #381
2017 · Boys
832 recorded births
National rank #386
Where Noel Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| CA | #293 | 126 |
| TX | #314 | 119 |
| NV | #389 | 7 |
| IL | #400 | 27 |
| NC | #407 | 27 |
| AZ | #412 | 18 |
| CO | #420 | 14 |
| FL | #421 | 46 |