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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Noel — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Noeh|Noela
French◈ Unisex · 48% boy · 52% girl→ Stable

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Noel

◈

noh-EL · 2 syllables

Share Noel:
Compare with another name
Boy
#434
→ Stable
Boy
#434
Popularity score: 39
→ Stable
Peak
#398 in 2021
5yr
+17 ranks
Velocity
+17
Birth frequency
2.0 per 10,000 births
Girl
#1490
Popularity score: 26
↓ Fading
Peak
#1254 in 2022
5yr
-170 ranks
Velocity
-170
Birth frequency
4.1 per 100,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #434 · Falling since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
French boy names
Noel

Popularity score: 39  ·  SSA Rank: #434

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #1490 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
French girl names
Noel

Popularity score: 26  ·  SSA Rank: #1490

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
69
Higher than 69% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
→ Stable
+17 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Unknown
— · — · —
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
85
3 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Noel scores well on meaning depth but there are tradeoffs — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
87
Name Trend28% of score
44
Uniqueness20% of score
85
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
ReligiousChristmasClassicUnisexFrenchLatin2-syllableFestiveVintage
Character
festive warmthtimeless elegance
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Noels

creativeinfluentialdeterminedintrospectiveskilled
STRONG
High confidence

Noel is a French unisex name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #434 in the US in 2024.

Trend:→ Stable · +17 ranks
Feasibility:— · — · —
Popularity:#1490 · rare
Noel at a Glance
Meaning:Born at Christmas; derived from Latin 'natalis' meaning 'birthday' or 'natal day,' traditionally associated with the nativity of Christ.
Language root:Latin · Old French
Peak rank:#398 in 2021
5yr change:+17 ranks
Sex usage:Boy #434 · Girl #1490
Notable bearers
Noel Coward
playwright and composer
Noel Gallagher
musician, Oasis guitarist
Noel Neill
actress
Similar Sound
JoelNoëlCole◈DoyleBoelYoel
Similar Style
Gabriel◈Everett◈Luca◈Silas◈Milo◈
Works well with
GraceHope◈JamesSamuelEmmaLucySophiaOliver
You Might Also Like
Gabriel◈
Hebrew · #43
→ Stable
Everett◈
English · #85
→ Stable
Luca◈
Latin · #23
→ Stable
Silas◈
Latin · #81
→ Stable
Milo◈
Latin · #120
→ Stable
Beau
French · #69
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Noel illustration
Name Intelligence
Noel · Overview
Summary

Noel is a French unisex name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #434 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 15/100 → Stable

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Noel scores 69/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Works for any sex
48% boy · 52% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Religious · Classic · Romantic character
Noel carries a warm, gentle, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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