Noel or Noël has been in use as both a given name and a surname since the 12th century. It has been traditionally given to children born over the Christmas period, and most early baptisms of the name took place in December or early January. The name Noel has been given to both boys and girls on this holiday since the Middle Ages. According to the US Social Security Administration, girls named Noel ranked #587 in popularity in 1987. The diaeresis (¨) can be used over the e and is used when there are two vowels next to one another that should be pronounced as separate syllables instead of a diphthong. It should not be confused with the umlaut (also two dots), a diacritical mark that represents a change in the pronunciation of the letter. Other nicknames and modern variations for girls named Noel are: Noele, Noeline, Nowell, Noela, Noell, Noella, Noelene, Noeleen, and the French specific feminine spelling distinguished by adding the "le" to the ending of the name, (Noelle). Noel derives from the old French Noël "Christmas", a variant (and later a replacement) of nael, which itself derives from the Latin natalis "birth". The term natalis dies (birth day) was long used in Church Latin in reference to the birthday of Christ—or in other words: Christmas. In modern English, a Noel can also be used to refer to a Christmas carol.

People

Noël (singer) Noël is an American disco music Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string section ...

, American disco singer *

Noel Agazarian Noël le Chevalier Agazarian (26 December 1916 – 16 May 1941) was a British World War II fighter ace with seven victories. He was the brother of Special Operations Executive agent Jack Agazarian, who was executed by the Germans in 1945, a ...

(1916–1941), British pilot *

Noel Barrionuevo María Noel Barrionuevo (born 16 May 1984) is an Argentine field hockey player. She won the bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and the silver medal at the 2020 Summer Ol ...

(b. 1984), Argentine female professional field hockey player and Olympian *

Noel Bauldeweyn Noel Bauldeweyn (first name also ''Noe'', ''Natalis''; surname also ''Balbun'', ''Balduin'', ''Bauldewijn'', ''Baulduin'', ''Baulduvin'', and ''Valdovin''; (c. 1480 – after 1513) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, active in the Lo ...

(c. 1480–1513), Franco-Flemish composer *

Noel Blanc Noel Barton Blanc (born October 19, 1938) is an American commercial producer and retired voice actor. He is the son of the late cartoon voice actor, Mel Blanc. Early life and career Blanc was born on October 19, 1938 in Los Angeles, California ...

(b. 1938), American voice actor, son of Mel Blanc *

Noel Cabangon Noel Gadiano Cabangon (born December 25, 1963) is a Filipino folk singer and composer, known for composing socially-relevant songs. In 1987, he formed the group ''Buklod'' together with Rene Boncocan and Rom Dongeto. Early life Noel Gadiano Cab ...

(b. 1963), Filipino singer *

Noel Chavasse Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, (9 November 1884 – 4 August 1917) was a British medical doctor, Olympic athlete, and British Army officer from the Chavasse family. He is one of only three people to be awarded a Victoria Cross twice. The Battl ...

(1884–1917), British medical officer and decorated hero * Noel Clarke (b. 1975), English actor and writer * Noël Coward (1899–1973), British actor, playwright, and popular music composer *

Noel Devine Noel Devine (born February 16, 1988) is a former American football running back. Devine played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers and holds the record for career-all purpose yardage (5,761 yards). Devine was signed by the Phil ...

(b. 1988), American football player *

Noel Dyson Elsie Noël Dyson (23 December 1916 – 29 June 1995) was an English character actress Dyson played a number of roles in theatre, television and films (including in telemovies) but is best remembered as a versatile character actress in TV seri ...

(1916–1995), British actress *

Noel Edmonds Noel Ernest Edmonds (born 22 December 1948) is an English television presenter, radio DJ, writer, producer, and businessman. Edmonds first became known as a disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg before moving to BBC Radio 1 in the UK. He has presente ...

(b. 1948), British television presenter and DJ *

Noel Emmanuel Christian Noel Emmanuel (born 25 December 1960) is a Sri Lankan Tamil priest and the current Roman Catholic Bishop of Trincomalee. Early life and family Emmanuel was born on 25 December 1960 in Trincomalee in eastern Ceylon. After school he joine ...

(b. 1960), 6th Bishop of Trincomalee *

Noel Fielding Noel Fielding (; (born 21 May 1973) is an English actor and comedian. He is best known for his work with The Mighty Boosh comedy troupe alongside Julian Barratt in the 2000s, and more recently as a co-presenter of ''The Great British Bake Off'' ...

(b. 1973), British comedian and television actor *

Noel Fisher Noel Roeim Fisher (born March 13, 1984) is a Canadian actor. He is known for his portrayal of Mickey Milkovich on the Showtime series '' Shameless'', as well as his portrayal of Cael Malloy on the FX series '' The Riches''. He played Ellison " ...

(b. 1984), Canadian actor *

Noel Francis Noel Francis (born Noel Frances Sweeney, August 31, 1906 – October 30, 1959) was an American actress of the stage and screen during the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Texas, she began her acting career on the Broadway stage in the mid-1920s, befo ...

(c. 1906–1959), American Actress *

Noel Gallagher Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born 29 May 1967) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He was the chief songwriter, lead guitarist, and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis until their split in 2009. After leaving Oasis, he formed ...

(b. 1967), English musician * Noel V. Ginnity (fl. 1957-2020's), Irish comedian *

Noël Godin Noël Godin (born 13 September 1945) is a Belgian writer, critic, actor and notorious pie thrower or ''entarteur''. Godin gained global attention in 1998 when his group ambushed Microsoft CEO Bill Gates in Brussels, pelting the software magnate ...

(b. 1945), Belgian writer *

Noel Harrison Noel John Christopher Harrison (29 January 1934 – 19 October 2013) was an English actor and singer who had a hit singing " The Windmills of Your Mind" in 1968, and was a member of the British Olympic skiing team in the 1950s. He was the son of ...

(1934–2013), British actor and singer *

Noel Hood Margaret Noel Hood (25 December 1909 – 15 October 1979) was a British actress. She was married to the Irish-born actor Charles Oliver. Filmography Film * '' Crook's Tour'' (1940) as Edith Charters * '' Personal Affair'' (1953) as 4th Gossip ...

(1909–1979), British actress *

Noel Jenke Noel Charles Jenke (December 17, 1946 – July 23, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for three different teams during the 1971 through 1974 seasons. Before pl ...

(1946–2020), American football player * Noel King (b. 1956), Republic of Ireland U-21s football manager *

Noel LaMontagne Noel Michael LaMontagne (born March 9, 1977) is a former American football offensive guard. He played college football at Virginia. He signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent following the 2000 NFL Draft and played for the Br ...

(b. 1977), American football player *

Noel Langley Noel Langley (25 December 1911 – 4 November 1980) was a South African-born (later naturalised American) novelist, playwright, screenwriter and director. He wrote the screenplay which formed the basis for the 1939 film '' The Wizard of Oz'' an ...

(1911–1980), South African novelist, screenwriter and director * Noël Leslie, Countess of Rothes (b. 1878), heroine of the Titanic disaster * Noël Martin (1959–2020), British activist and neo-Nazi attack victim *

Noel Neill Noel Darleen Neill (November 25, 1920 – July 3, 2016) was an American actress. She played Lois Lane in the film serials ''Superman'' (1948) and '' Atom Man vs. Superman'' (1950), as well as the 1950s television series '' Adventures of Superman ...

(1920–2016), American actress * Noel Pagan or ''Noel'', American freestyle musician *

Noel Paul Stookey Noel Paul Stookey (born December 30, 1937) is an American singer-songwriter who was famous for being in the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary; however, he has been known by his first name, Noel, throughout his life. Nowadays, he continues to w ...

(b. 1937), American folk musician *

Noel Redding David Noel Redding (25 December 1945 – 11 May 2003) was an English rock musician, best known as the bass player for the Jimi Hendrix Experience and guitarist/singer for Fat Mattress. Following his departure from the Experience in 1969 ...

(1945–2003), English guitarist and bassist *

Noël Regney Noël Regney (born Léon Schlienger; 19 August 1922 – 22 November 2002), was a French World War II veteran and songwriter who is best known for composing the Christmas standard "Do You Hear What I Hear?" with his then-wife Gloria Shayne Baker in ...

(1922–2002), French songwriter *

Noel Rosa Noel de Medeiros Rosa (December 11, 1910 – May 4, 1937) was a Brazilian songwriter, singer, and guitar/ mandolin player. One of the greatest names in Brazilian popular music, Noel gave a new twist to samba, combining its Afro-Brazilian roots ...

(1910–1937), Brazilian songwriter and musician * Noel Rosal (b. 1964), Filipino politician *

Noel Stanton Noel Stanton (25 December 1926 – 20 May 2009) was the founder of the Jesus Army. Life Stanton was born in Bedfordshire in the East of England, and educated at Bedford Modern School. His parents were farmers. When he was 18, he was conscr ...

(1926–2009), founder of the Jesus Army *

Noel Stockdale Sir Arthur Noel Stockdale (25 December 1920 – 2 February 2004) was an English businessman who co-founded the British supermarket chain Asda, alongside Peter and Fred Asquith. Early life Stockdale was born at The Mill in the Yorkshire vill ...

(1920–2004), English businessman *

Noel Streatfeild Mary Noel Streatfeild Order of the British Empire, OBE (24 December 1895 –11 September 1986) was an English author, best known for children's books including the "Shoes" books, which were not a series (though some books made references to ...

(1895–1986), British author (Ballet Shoes) *

Noel Sullivan Noel Sullivan (born 28 July 1980 as Noel John Hayes) is a Welsh singer and actor. He was a member of the British pop group Hear'Say. Like the other members of the group, he won his part through the talent show '' Popstars''. Early life Sulli ...

(b. 1980), Welsh singer and actor * Noel Toy (1918–2003), Actress *

Noel Thatcher Noel Thatcher is a British Paralympic runner who represented the United Kingdom at six Paralympic Games between 1984 and 2004, collecting a total of five gold medals. His two career highlights are winning gold and setting a world record at Bar ...

, British paralympic athlete * Noel Walsh (1935–2020), Irish Gaelic footballer, administrator, selector, manager and member of the Defence Forces * Noel Whelan (b. 1974), English professional footballer *

Noël Wells Noël Kristi Wells (born December 23, 1986) is an American actress, comedian, impressionist, writer, director, singer, and musician. Wells is known for her television roles as Rachel Silva in the Netflix comedy-drama ''Master of None'' (20152017), ...

(b. 1986), American comedian and actress *

Noel Wimalasena Deshamanya Noel Wimalasena (23 March 1914 – 5 May 1994) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and the first Governor of Sabaragamuwa. Early life and education Nanediri Wimalasena was born on 23 March 1914 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He attended An ...

(1914–1994), Sri Lankan Sinhala diplomat, 1st Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka * María Noel (b. 1943), Uruguayan model and actress

Fictional characters

* Noël (comics), a character and comics series by André Franquin * Noel (mermaid), in the manga and anime series ''Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch'' * Noel K. Ehrlichkeit, in the ''Triangle Heart'' video game * Noel Vermillion in the fighting game series ''BlazBlue'' * Noel Kreiss, from the video game ''Final Fantasy XIII-2'' * Noël Kannagi, from the anime ''Sora No Woto'' * Noël Takao, from the Super Sentai series ''Lupinranger VS Patranger'' *

Noel Shempsky The main character of the American television sitcom ''Frasier'' is Frasier Crane. Other regular characters include: his father Martin, brother Niles, producer Roz Doyle, and his live-in caregiver Daphne Moon. Other minor characters made regular ...

, in the tv show ''Frasier'' * Noel Seeker, in the video game series Legend of Heroes: ''Trails from Zero'', ''Trails to Azure'', ''Trails into Reverie''

In names for Santa Claus

*Père Noël, the French equivalent to Santa Claus, literally translated "Father Christmas" *Papá Noel, the Spanish and Latin American equivalent *Pare Noel, the Catalan-speaking regions' equivalent *Papai Noel, the Brazilian equivalent *Baba Noel, the Chaldean and Arabic equivalent

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Noel (Name) French masculine given names Scottish given names English-language unisex given names English masculine given names English feminine given names

People

Fictional characters

In names for Santa Claus

See also

References