Noelle Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

What Does the Name Noelle Mean?

Noelle (or “Noel”) means “Christmas” or “Birth of Christ.”

Usually the name is given to someone born on or near the holiday.

What Is the Origin of the Name Noelle?

Noelle comes from Old French origins where it was originally the word “Nael.”

Nael was Latin for “birth,” which came from the earlier Latin phrase “Natalis dies,” or “birthday.” The Church uses this phrase to represent Christmas.

In modern French it became “Noelle,” which translates to “Christmas.” There are no misrepresentations or debates about this origin.

Since the 12th century, Noelle has been a popular name to give a child. It is also a common family name. In modern times, “Noel” sometimes refers to popular Christmas carols ⁽¹⁾.

How Popular Is the Name Noelle?

The name Noelle is popular for girls and its popularity continues to rise. It went from number 210 in 2020, to 202 in 2021 alone.

Noel is less popular for boys, though in the past few years there has been a rise from 417 to 397 ⁽²⁾.

How Do I Pronounce Noelle?

In English-speaking countries, Noelle is pronounced as “NO-ell.” In French, it is pronounced as “NO-ell-uh.”

A modern pronunciation of the male name Noel is “NOLE.”

Is Noelle a Boy or Girl Name?

Since the Middle Ages, Noelle has been a unisex name due to its significant meaning. It is common for both boys and girls to this day.

Variations of Noelle

For a name with Latin roots like Noelle, it’s gone through a lot of iterations. Some of the most famous throughout the centuries are:

• Noellea (French)
• Noellee (French)
• Noelleene (French)
• Noelleine (French)
• Noellel (Spanish)
• Noellela (Spanish)
• Noellele (French)
• Nowell (French)

Nicknames for Noelle

Noelle also has a fun list of nicknames to play with. Try some of the ones listed below and see which feels right:

• Ella
• Elle
• Noa
• Noey
• No-No

Similar Names to Noelle

There are a multitude of names similar to Noelle. Some of them have the same quality, origin, sound, or feel. Let’s take a look at a few of our favorites:

• Annabelle
• Holly
• Joelle
• Joy
• Juliette
• Natalie
• Naomi
• Noel
• Rosa
• Winter

Middle Names for Noelle

Noelle has a soft sonic touch to it. It’s important to pair it with a name that compliments that well. Some great middle names for Noelle include:

• Abigail
• Arina
• Audrey
• Ashley
• Clair
• Eileen
• Joanne
• Joy
• Kristen
• Ruth

Sibling Names for Noelle

Noelle is a statement name, so you can’t let your foot off the gas pedal when choosing a sibling’s name. Some of the best brother and sister names we know are:

For a brother:

• Albert
• Alexander
• Emmett
• Irving
• Jack
• James
• Julian
• Rowan
• Samuel
• Zayne

For a sister:

• Aurora
• Cora
• Debbie
• Francesca
• Gwen
• Lucia
• Nancy
• Pearl
• Uriel
• Veronica

Famous People Named Noelle

There are also dozens of talented people named Noelle (and its variants). Some of those you might recognize include:

• Noël: American singer and disco performer.
• Noël Akchoté: French classical, improvisational, and jazz guitarist.
• Noel Fielding: British comedian, writer, actor, artist, musician, and television presenter.
• Noel Gallagher: English singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for his work in the English rock group “Oasis.”
• Noel Gay: British composer of pop music in the early 20th century.
• Noelle Reno: American fashion designer, TV presenter, and model
• Noelle Vial: Irish poet best known for her debut book, “Promiscuous Winds.”

Noelle in Popular Culture

Many recognizable characters from mass media are named Noelle too. Many of them are in the popular Japanese medium of manga.

Some of them you may or may not know include:

• Noelle Holiday: A character from the videogame “Deltarune.”
• Noelle Silva: A character from the manga series Black Clover.
• Noelle: A character from the video game “Dragalia Lost.”
• Noelle: A character from the video game “Genshin Impact.”
• Noël: A character from the comic series by the same name. Written by André Franquin.
• Noel K. Ehrlichkeit: A character from the video game “Triangle Heart.”
• Noel Vermillion: Character from the videogame “BlazBlue.”
• Noel Kreiss: A character from the video game “Final Fantasy XIII-2.”
• Noël Kannagi: A character from the anime “Sora No Woto.”
• Noël Takao: A character from the television series “Lupinranger VS Patranger.”
• Noel Shempsky: A character from the television program “Frasier.”
• Papá Noel: The Spanish and Latin American equivalent to “Santa Clause.”

Noelle FAQs

In this section, we will attempt to answer any final questions, and cover why else Noelle is such a great name.