Noel

Noel is a masculine given name derived from the French Noël, meaning ‘Christmas.’ The French word itself comes from the Latin phrase ‘natalis dies,’ meaning ‘birthday,’ specifically referring to the birth of Christ. Traditionally, the name was given to boys born during the Christmas season. The Middle English form ‘Nowell’ is preserved in the carol ‘The First Nowell.’ A notable bearer of the name is Sir Noël Coward, the English playwright and composer known for works such as ‘Private Lives’ and ‘Blithe Spirit.’