This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
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.

England
Dutch
1597 Noel AuFr Frambout; 1598 Noel ibid. Frombout
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; 1561 Noël RegPCC-1 p. 2; 1562 Noël ibid. p. 13; 1563 Noël ibid. p. 17; 1564 Noël ibid. p. 67; 1565 Nouel ibid. p. 120, Noël ibid. p. 111; 1566 Noël ibid. p. 208; 1567 Noël ibid. p. 279; 1568 Nouel ibid. p. 372, Noël ibid. p. 367; 1570 Noël ibid. p. 425; 1571 Noël ibid. p. 443
Cite as: J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Noel". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2016, no. 3. http://dmnes.org/2016/3/name/Noel.