The name Noel comes from the French phrase “Les bonnes nouvelles” which means “the good news”. It is most commonly associated with Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the “good news” that God sent into the world to save humanity from sin.
The name Noel first began being used in reference to Christmas during the Middle Ages in France. It was meant to refer to the nativity of Christ and the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the shepherds that the Savior had been born in Bethlehem. Over time, Noel became a well-established Christmas carol and a popular boy’s name, especially for boys born around the Christmas holiday.
So at its core, Noel refers to the “good news” of Christ’s birth as told in the Gospels: “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord'” (Luke 2:10-11). The angel declares the arrival of Jesus to be “good news”, using the Greek word “euangelion” from which we get the word “gospel”.
Noel is a name that reminds us of the hope, joy, and salvation Jesus’ birth brought to the world. It points back to the incarnation – God becoming man to save sinners. Christ’s coming was prophesied centuries before as the one who would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15) and rule as King over God’s people on David’s throne (Isaiah 9:1-7). Noel brings our attention to the fulfillment of God’s promises in sending His Son on that first Christmas Day.
As a Christian name, Noel reminds us:
- Of God’s faithfulness – He kept His promises to send a Messiah to redeem humanity from the curse of sin.
- Of Christ’s divinity – Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Noel affirms the doctrine of the incarnation.
- Of the hope we have in Christ – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). Noel points to the Savior who delivers all who trust in Him.
- Of the joy of salvation – The coming of Jesus gives all believers eternal life and relationship with God. He makes our joy complete.
- Of the goodness of the gospel – Noel reminds us that the news of Jesus is decidedly “good news” for the world.
So in summary, the meaning behind Noel is the arrival of the long-awaited Savior whose birth brought salvation, joy and the promise of restored relationship with God. It marks the incarnation of Christ – the Word becoming flesh – and the beginning of the New Covenant prophesied about in the Old Testament. Noel is a name that celebrates the Messiah’s coming which made the way for our salvation.
The Use of Noel in the Bible
The name Noel does not appear verbatim in the Bible. However, the Bible uses various words like “good news”, “glad tidings” and “gospel” to refer to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
In Isaiah 40:9, the prophet writes about declaring the “good news” of God’s coming to Jerusalem. Isaiah 52:7 also refers to the “good news” of God’s reign and salvation for His people. When the angel appeared to the shepherds outside Bethlehem, he announced: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.” (Luke 2:10). Jesus proclaimed that He came to preach “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18), which is the gospel message. And Mark 1:1 begins by describing Jesus’ ministry as “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
So while Noel itself is not in the Bible, it encapsulates descriptions of Christ and His ministry as recorded by Luke, Isaiah, Mark and other biblical authors. The core meaning behind Noel – the proclamation of Jesus as Savior and God’s salvation offered through Him – is a central theme across both the Old and New Testament.
Noel in Christmas Carols
Noel came to have strong Christmas connotations during the Middle Ages and this connection persists today. Many traditional Christmas carols use Noel in the lyrics or title, including:
- “The First Noel” – one of the oldest English Christmas carols, it recounts the nativity story
- “O Holy Night” (“Cantique de Noel”) – a French carol translated to English in the mid-1800s
- “What Child is This?” – written to the tune of the folk song “Greensleeves,” it asks “Why lies He in such mean estate / Where ox and ass are feeding?”
- “Noel Nouvelet” – a medieval French carol depicting the shepherds’ journey to see the newborn Christ
- “Here We Come A-Wassailing” – an English folk carol with lyrics “To you and to yours / And to our good Christmas cheer / Good tidings we bring / For Christmas and the New Year”
Hearing these Noel-themed carols serves as a reminder of Christ’s birth during the Advent and Christmas seasons. The repetition of the word “Noel” in the lyrics connects back to the joyful announcement of Jesus’ arrival on that first Christmas night.
Noel in Other Christmas Traditions
Beyond Christmas carols, Noel has also been incorporated into other Christmas and Advent traditions including:
- The Noel Candle – Some Advent wreaths include a white “Christ candle” in the center known as the Noel candle. It represents Christ’s birth and is lit on Christmas Eve or Day.
- Yule Logs – Also known as Christmas or Noel logs, these logs were burnt in fireplaces to symbolize welcoming back the light of Christ into the world.
- The Boar’s Head Carol – Sung before Christmas feasts, this English carol references Christ as the “Noel” who was born in Bethlehem.
- Father Christmas – Noel was an early name for Santa Claus in Europe, who brought gifts and good tidings just as God gave the gift of Jesus.
These traditions remind us that Christ is the heart of Christmas. Placing Noel candles on wreaths, singing as we light Yule logs, and celebrating Father Christmas all hearken back to celebrating Jesus, the newborn King.
Noel as a First Name
Because Noel captures the joy and hope of Christ’s birth, it has been used as a first name since medieval times. Noel became popular as a masculine given name in Europe first, eventually spreading to Britain and then America.
In terms of meaning, Noel has the same Christian significance when used as a first name. Calling a son Noel is a way for parents to celebrate the nativity and express gratitude for Jesus coming as Savior. While less common today, people named Noel remind us of the real reason for the season – honoring Christ – whenever we hear their name.
Some well-known people with the first name Noel include:
- Noel Paul Stookey – folk singer and member of the band Peter, Paul and Mary
- Noel Gallagher – guitarist and songwriter for the British rock band Oasis
- Noel Clarke – actor known for playing Mickey Smith on Doctor Who
- Noel Fielding – English comedian and host of The Great British Bake Off
- Noel Coward – playwright and composer of classics like “Mad Dogs and Englishmen”
While Noel may not be as popular for modern boys as it once was, it remains a way to connect children to the biblical story of Christmas and the arrival of the Christ child.
Noel as a Last Name and Surname
Noel is much more common as a surname than first name today. In fact, it’s become quite a common French and English last name. Adopting Noel as a surname or passing it down developed as a way to show Christian faith and celebrate the Nativity.
As a surname, Noel may have originally denoted people who were born on Christmas Day itself. Later, others adopted Noel as their family name in honor of the meaning behind Christmas. Some changed their surname to Noel specifically to identify as believers in Christ.
People with the last name Noel include:
- Martin Noel – acclaimed contemporary artist known for cityscape paintings
- Josh Noel – American journalist and author
- Anita Noel – pioneer of eco-tourism in Belize
- David Noel – American professional basketball player
- Nico Noel – Antiguan soccer player
While none of these Noels were likely born on Christmas Day, their last name ties back to the first Christmas and God’s gift of a Savior to mankind.
Noel in Popular Culture
The meaning and imagery behind Noel has also influenced popular culture. Examples include:
- “Noel” – Christmas film from 2004 starring Susan Sarandon and Penelope Cruz
- “The Noel Diary” – 2017 Netflix Christmas movie about a man returning home to settle his estranged mother’s estate
- “Noel” – Christmas-themed episode of hit sitcom Frasier from season 2
- “Noel” – Christmas album released by Josh Groban in 2007
- “Noel” – Christmas song and single released by Lauryn Hill in 2017
Hearing Noel in song titles, albums, movies and TV shows around Christmas immediately evokes the holiday and its meaning. It has become a shorthand encapsulating the entire Christmas spirit and celebration of family, faith and hope.
Noel as a Christmas Season Greeting
“Noel” is sometimes used as a spoken Christmas greeting, especially in France. Saying “Joyeux Noel” to someone is the equivalent of saying “Merry Christmas” – both are expressions wishing happiness during the Christmas season.
However other similar greetings include:
- “Bonnes fêtes de Noël” – French for “Have a good Christmas holiday”
- “Bon Noël” – slightly less formal French greeting meaning “Good Christmas”
- “Meilleurs vœux à Noël et pour la nouvelle année” – a very formal French greeting meaning “Best wishes for Christmas and the new year”
So using Noel as a holiday greeting expresses hope that the recipient truly experiences the joy, blessing, and reason for the season – the coming of the Christ child.
Symbols and Images Associated with Noel
Certain symbols and images are closely tied to Noel and the deeper spiritual meaning it holds. These include:
- Stars – associated with the Star of Bethlehem that led the magi to Jesus.
- Doves – represent peace, the Holy Spirit, and God’s blessing.
- Candles – symbolize Jesus as the Light of the World (John 8:12).
- Poinsettias – with red leaves honoring Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
- Bells – ring out to proclaim the news of Christ’s birth.
- Holly – the red berries represent the blood Jesus shed.
- Candy canes – shaped like a shepherd’s crook, a reminder of the shepherds who came to worship Jesus.
When we see these images, it can serve as a visual reminder of what Noel and Christmas truly symbolize – the coming of the Messiah into the world to bring salvation.
Conclusion
Noel is a name intertwined with the biblical narrative of Christmas – the divine Son of God being born as a human baby to save the world from sin. Its meaning encapsulates all the hope, joy, peace, and goodwill we celebrate at Christmastime.
This short and simple word aptly symbolizes God’s incredible gift of Himself to us that first Christmas. It serves as a meaningful reminder during the Advent and Christmas seasons of not only Christ’s birth, but also His purpose in entering our world. Noel redirects our focus to glorifying God for all He has done to reconcile humanity to Himself through the babe in the manger of Bethlehem.