| Pronunciation | English: /ˈnoʊəl/ NOH-əl French: [nɔɛl] |
|---|---|
| Gender | Unisex |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | French |
| Meaning | Christmas, Christmas carol |
| Region of origin | Europe |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Nowell, Noelle |
Noel or Noël is a given name, often given to both girls and boys born over the Christmas period.[1]
Noel derives from the Old French "Noël", meaning "Christmas". It is a variant (and later replacement) of "nael", which itself comes from the Latin natalis, meaning "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 refer to a Christmas carol.[2][3] The spelling with a diaeresis over the "e" (Noël) is used to indicate that the two vowels are pronounced separately rather than as a diphthong.[4]
Other nicknames and modern variations include Noele, Noeline, Nowell, Noela, Noell, Noella, Noelene, Noeleen, and Noelle/Noëlle (French, feminine).[5]
- ^ "Meaning, origin and history of the name Noël". Retrieved 2023-12-23.
- ^ "Noel Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster".
- ^ Curzan, Anne (2003). Gender Shifts in the History of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-82007-3
- ^ "Introducing the Diaeresis". 10 October 2016.
- ^ "French Nouns Gender - Feminine Endings". 14 September 2010.