Noel (given name)

Name list From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Noel or Noël is a given name, often given to both girls and boys born over the Christmas period.[1]

Pronunciation(Noel) English: /ˈnl/,
(Noël) English: /nˈɛl/
French: [nɔɛl]
GenderUnisex
Word/nameFrench
Quick facts Pronunciation, Gender ...
Noël
Pronunciation(Noel) English: /ˈnl/,
(Noël) English: /nˈɛl/
French: [nɔɛl]
GenderUnisex
Origin
Word/nameFrench
MeaningChristmas, Christmas carol
Region of originEurope
Other names
Related namesNowell, Noelle
Close

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]

People

Fictional characters

In names for Santa Claus

  • Père Noël, the French equivalent to Santa Claus, literally translated "Father Christmas"
  • Papá Noel, the Spanish and Latin American equivalent
  • Pare Noel, the Catalan-speaking regions' equivalent
  • Papai Noel, the Brazilian equivalent
  • Baba Noel, the Assyrian and Arabic equivalent
  • Ông già Noel, the Vietnamese equivalent

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI