English speakers borrowed the word noel from French. It can be traced further back to the Latin word natalis, which can mean "birthday" as a noun or "of or relating to birth" as an adjective.

Christmas Noël, French for Christmas Noel is another name for a Christmas carol

Dec 11, 2025 · Inherited from Middle French Noël, from Old French Noel, Naël, inherited from Vulgar Latin *notālis, from Latin nātālis [diēs Dominī] (“birthday of the Lord”) with dissimilation …

Dec 8, 2025 · “Noel” is a word often sung at Christmas that means “birth” or “birthday,” especially the birth of Christ. It comes from the Latin natalis and French noël, referring to the celebration …

Nov 25, 2024 · We've been singing it all season long, but what are we talking about? Find out what the word "noel" means and how to use it appropriately during the holidays.

1 day ago · Because Noel is derived from the Latin word natalis, meaning "birth," it is also a popular baby name. The name has been popular for both boys and girls since the beginning of …

Dec 5, 2024 · “Noel” comes from the same root words from Latin, natus, where we get the nativity, meaning “birth". Early Christians used it to refer specifically to the birth of Christ, often in the …

Nov 13, 2025 · The basic meaning of Noel is “birth,” a reference to the birth of Jesus Christ. Noel has been used historically as both a representation of Christmas itself and as an element in …

Religious festivals advent All Saints' Day All Souls' Day ascension Ascension Day Day of the Dead Divali Diwali Easter Easter Day Hegira Hejira Hijrah holy day pre-Christmas Purim …

Signifying the holiday season, Noël comes from the Latin verb nasci, meaning “to be born.” A variation of this word, nael, made its way into Old French.