NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Noela

A feminine name of French origin meaning "Christmas".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Noela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Noela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 7 births.

This profile covers 43 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2006 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 43 living people in the UK are called Noela. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Noela ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 7 girls were registered as Noela.
  • About 43 living people in the UK are estimated to have Noela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2021

7 births

Estimated living

43

2026

Meaning

What does Noela mean?

The given name Noela has its origins in Latin, stemming from the word "Noël" which means "Christmas" or "birthday of Christ." This name gained popularity during the medieval period, particularly in regions where Latin Christianity had a strong influence, such as parts of Europe and the Mediterranean.

In its earliest forms, the name was often spelled as "Noela" or "Noella," with variations depending on the local language and dialect. It was commonly used as a feminine name, though there are some historical instances of it being used as a masculine name as well.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Noela can be found in the chronicles of the 12th century, where it was mentioned as the name of a noble woman from the region of Aquitaine in present-day France. Noela de Montfort, born in 1135, was a prominent figure in the Crusades and played a significant role in the defense of the city of Acre during the Third Crusade.

During the Renaissance period, the name Noela gained further popularity, particularly in Italy and Spain. Noela de Trastámara, born in 1451, was a Spanish noblewoman and a key figure in the court of King Ferdinand II of Aragon. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her influential role in the cultural development of the time.

In the 17th century, Noela Bressand, born in 1620, was a French writer and poet who gained recognition for her works on religious themes. Her writings were widely circulated and celebrated during her lifetime, and she is considered one of the earliest female writers to achieve significant literary acclaim.

Noela Herreros, born in 1759, was a Spanish composer and music teacher who made significant contributions to the development of classical music in Spain. Her compositions, which included operas, sonatas, and chamber works, were highly regarded and performed throughout Europe.

In the 19th century, Noela Duckett, born in 1832, was a British artist and illustrator known for her intricate botanical drawings and watercolor paintings. Her works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and are now housed in various museum collections around the world.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Noela. While the name has its roots in Latin and Christianity, it has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, becoming a respected and admired name in various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Noela over time

The chart below shows babies named Noela registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Noela, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Noela
02457200620152024

Decades

Noela by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Noela was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4826 17 4
2010s #3659 23 4
2000s #5061 3 1

Related

Names similar to Noela

FAQ

Noela: questions and answers

How popular is the name Noela in the UK right now?

In 2024, Noela was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Noela most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 7 babies registered as Noela in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Noela?

A feminine name of French origin meaning "Christmas".

How many people are called Noela in the UK?

A total of 43 babies have been registered as Noela across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.