The name Noelle means “Christmas.” It is the feminine form of the masculine name Noël, and it’s a great choice for December babies (though you don’t have to have a winter baby to choose this name). Noelle evolved from the French word noël, which is derived from the Latin phrase “natalis dies Domini”, meaning “the Lord’s birthday”.

Noelle is considered to be a somewhat trendy name appearing on top baby name lists since the mid-1960s. But, Noelle has never moved up to a prominent position on the charts. This is likely due to the fact that many people think the name is only reserved for December babies. In 2020, 1,359 baby girls were named Noelle, placing it at 210th place.

Name Variations

Within the family of feminine names related to Noelle, Noella, or even Joelle or Joella are a few possible alternatives. Natalie, from the Latin phrase “natalis dies Domini,” meaning “the Lord’s birthday” is the most commonly used alternative of Noelle. Babies were given the name Natalie three times more often than Noelle in 2020. Here are some more variations of the name Noelle. 

Noelene (English)Noelia (Spanish)Nowell (Latin)

Similar Names

Though the name Noelle isn’t just reserved for December babies, it does mean “Christmas.” Here is a selection of baby names inspired by other festive celebrations of December, from across the globe.

ClementineFuyu HollyIraImaniIvyJuniperLiorNicoNoellaStar 

Other Girls’ Names Starting with N:

NadineNaomiNataliaNeveNicolaNoraNovaNya

Common Nicknames

Common nicknames for Noelle include the following:

Noa: Noa is used as a girl’s or boy’s name, derived from Hebrew origins, and is a variation of the name Noah. It is predominantly used in the English language. This nickname has a feisty, creative vibe. Elle: This is a short but fabulous name with Old Provençal origins and Hebrew and Old Greek roots. Elle is predominantly used in the English language. It is artsy and cool. Ella: Classic, pretty, and princess-like, this name is derived from Greek and Hebrew origins. It means beautiful, fairy maiden, and goddess. It is both feminine and classic.

Suggested Sibling Names

Ava Ben Caleb Elijah Faith Isabelle Leah Luca Mikah Noah Owen Paige Quinn Sophie Seth Vivien

Famous People Named Noelle

Noelle Beck, American actressNoelle Cordier, French singerNoelle Lucila Bush, daughter of American politician Jeb BushNoelle Quinn, American basketball player and coachNoelle Robinson, daughter of American actor Leon RobinsonNoelle Scaggs, American singerNoelle Stevenson, American cartoonist Noelle van Lottum, Dutch tennis player

Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S. Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names in the U.S. 100 Biblical Baby Names