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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Noel m. Old French no(u)el from Latin natalis 'of or pertaining to birth'.

The phrase dies natalis refers to Christmas, the day of Jesus's birth; Noel was hence given to children who were born on Christmas day. See also Natale.

France
Old French
1296 Noël paris1296 p. 60; 1313 Noel Paris1313 p. 8
Middle French
1392 Noel MemBret-II col. 598; 1418 Noel HGParis p. 372; 1421 Noel favier 320; 1438 Noel ibid. 566
Cite as: J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Noel". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2015, no. 3. http://dmnes.org/2015/3/name/Noel.