Noel
Girl name · #1388 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Noel? In official American birth records, Noel has been tracked continuously since 1909, giving it 116 years of documented American history.
Noel ranks #1388 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 157 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1190, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,465 girls born in 2025 was named Noel.
The 116-year story
Noel first appears in the Social Security records in 1909, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1987, when 336 girls were named Noel — good for #587 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Noel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Noel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Noel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Noel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Noel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Noel is most common
State-level data for Noel is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Noel
Statistically, parents drawn to Noel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Chanel, Maribel, Cara, Raquel, and Juana.
ChanelMaribelCaraRaquelJuanaAlysonSilviaKara
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Noel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 157 | #1388 |
| 2024 | 150 | #1457 |
| 2023 | 173 | #1310 |
| 2022 | 192 | #1251 |
| 2021 | 178 | #1288 |
| 2020 | 142 | #1503 |
| 2019 | 199 | #1180 |
| 2018 | 192 | #1219 |
| 2017 | 201 | #1204 |
| 2016 | 204 | #1210 |
| 2015 | 212 | #1190 |
| 2014 | 206 | #1186 |
| 2013 | 182 | #1289 |
| 2012 | 145 | #1523 |
| 2011 | 165 | #1382 |
| 2010 | 160 | #1431 |
| 2009 | 181 | #1328 |
| 2008 | 178 | #1359 |
| 2007 | 193 | #1274 |
| 2006 | 180 | #1299 |
| 2005 | 182 | #1244 |
| 2004 | 168 | #1273 |
| 2003 | 185 | #1169 |
| 2002 | 192 | #1100 |
| 2001 | 210 | #1025 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Noel?
In official American birth records, the name Noel first appeared in 1909 (over 116 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 116 years.
Is Noel a popular girl name?
Noel ranked #1388 among girls in 2025 with 157 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1190.
When was the name Noel most popular?
Noel peaked in 1987, when 336 American girls received the name (ranked #587 that year). Since 1987 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Noel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,465 newborn American girls was named Noel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.