Noel

Noel arrives with bells. From the Old French noël, from the Latin natalis, birth, it has named children born around Christmas for more than a millennium. The unisex version, pronounced noh-EL, works for boys and girls alike; the feminine Noelle traditionally takes a softer inflection. Noel Coward gave the name its dry British wit, Noel Gallagher its rock swagger. Currently near 434 in the U.S., it holds onto its seasonal charm without being confined to December. Two quiet syllables, airy and warm. The name reads as poetic and slightly continental, the kind of name that suggests candlelight and early snow.