Noel
Girl name · #1388 in 2025 · Uniqueness 62/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Noel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Noel in class?
Noel scores 62 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Noel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Noel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Noels were CA (16), TX (12), VA (9), FL (8), NC (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 62/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.