Another famous bearer is Noel Coward (playwright etc).
-- Anonymous User 12/14/2005
Noel Blanc is the son of Looney Tunes/Hanna-Barbera voice actor Mel Blanc.
-- Anonymous User 7/26/2006
Anyone who lives in England knows Noel Edmonds. If you don't then where have you been? He is known for his appealing shirts which apparently were bought by his daughters, as he has no fashion sense AT ALL. He is the presenter of Deal or No Deal. And, before it ended Noel's House Party. He doesn't like Mr Blobby.
I don't know about it being *normally* pronounced in the USA as "NOL". I've lived in the US all my life and only heard it as "no-EL" until recently when I saw something about Tropical Storm Noel on the news and noticed they were pronouncing it the other way.
I love the name Noel, it can be a great name for a guy (sounds strong when you pronounce it like noll) but it's so pretty for a girl (especially one born around Christmas). Someone brilliant who has this name, for all you amazing Doctor Who fans, Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith). Gotta love him!
This is my father's name. I like it and I would use it as a middle name if I had a son or Noelle as a first name if I had a daughter. It isn't overused and suits people young and old.
-- Anonymous User 2/4/2008
Noel is a boys' name, and it's pronounced NOL. If you want a girls' name pronounced no-EL, that is Noelle. Unless you are French, there is no reason to pronounce Noel as no-EL, and even then, it is masculine.
There's every reason to prononce Noel as no-EL if that is how your parents spell the name they gave you. I named my daughter Noel and I wanted it spelled just as it is seen everywhere at Christmas. Every year since before I was born my Grandma put large electric candels in her front window that had NOEL on them and my favorite memory is driving up to their house at night and seeing those glowing in the window.
I love this name, but only pronounced no-EL. I have NEVER heard this name pronounced NOL, and I don't know why anyone would degrade this name with that awful pronunciation. I also like the name Noelle. If I have a boy on Christmas I might give this as a middle name, if I have a girl on Christmas I might give Noelle as a middle name.
-- Anonymous User 12/23/2008
I wish it was pronounced NO-el, with the emphasis on the first syllable. I find it more mature-sounding, like Neal etc. Noel sounds so feminine and a bit like a lower class name. And it sounds kitschy. I only like the pronunciation no-EL in France where it is simply the correct pronunciation.
I know a girl (born the day after Christmas), with the middle name Noel. She pronounces it no-ELL. It's alright. I definitely prefer no-ELL over NOLL, which sounds clumsy. But for a girl I prefer Noelle.
The meaning, the sound of it (when pronounced NOL, that is), everything about it just tickles me to the core. Plus it gives me a very distinctly British impression, which is a plus (I can't help it, I'm an anglophile). Noel will be my baby boy's name, if I ever have one. It makes me think of sexy British guys; I want my son to be a sexy British guy (or at least sexy).
Noel is the French word for Christmas and is a not-too-uncommon name for children born during the Christmas season.
However, there is an assertion that Noel does NOT mean "birth". Sorry, but ultimately it does. Romance (that mean Latin-derived) languages' word for "Christmas" is usually some derivative of the natalis -- Latin for "birth". Noel is Old French, and is, indeed Latin-derived.
The English male name is commonly pronounced No-wuhl, but if it is accompanied by a trema (two dots over the "e") then it is pronounced No-el (to the English-trained ear this sounds like No-well, but there is a subtle difference).
Technically, if it is a female name, it should be spelled Noelle. However, some women are named with the masculine spelling and the French pronunciation, especially if they are Christmas babies.
I live in the NW US. I usually hear this name pronounced NOL. Occasionally I've heard NO-wul. I've always heard Christmas cards with Noel on them pronounced as no-EL, but I've never heard this pronunciation for a *person* named Noel.
Noel Rosa (December 11, 1910 - May 4, 1937), Brazilian samba musician. Singer, songwriter, guitar/banjo player and one of the most important artists of Brazilian music.
Why does everyone pronounce this as no-EL? It's Noel-ryhmes-with-Joel. You don't say jo-EL, so why say no-EL? I guess this name is relatively unknown where I live, or just in America in general. Or I guess Americans never got around to listening to Wonderwall.
If I ever have a son, I will name him Noel. It is unique but at the same time not strange. It has a strong sound to it while at the same time sounds honest and kind. What I love about this name is that it is simple yet meaningful.