Noel?

[jeska]

It must vary between countries, I think. I live in Australia, and Noel is a) most definitely a boys' name and b) pronounced to rhyme with Joel or Cole.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but they're few and far between, in my experience anyway.

[titch]

What jeska said! I can't imagine anyone here thinking the male name Noel was pronounced Noelle - it must be a very uncommon name in the US. If people are confused, explaining that it's similar to Joel is a good idea.

Noel makes me think of Noel Gallagher (from the band Oasis) who I love so it has great connotations for me! His middle names are Thomas and David, both of which work well I think. I really like Noel Benjamin as well.

Please don't spell it Nole!

[thetxbelle]

It'e feminine because the "correct" pn of Noel, is No-ell, which is the same as Noelle

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/noel

I'm sorry but that makes no sense to me, Noel spelled Noel is a male name no matter how you say it. Even if you used this spelling on a girl it wouldnt change the fact that it's a male name. Noelle is the only feminine version of this name and fwiw the "no ell" prn is also used on males in some places which even your dictionary link backs up.

http://www.behindthename.com/name/noel

[catloverd]

I'm sorry but that makes no sense to me, Noel spelled Noel is a male name no matter how you say it. Even if you used this spelling on a girl it wouldnt change the fact that it's a male name. Noelle is the only feminine version of this name and fwiw the "no ell" prn is also used on males in some places which even your dictionary link backs up.

http://www.behindthename.com/name/noel

Again, i put "correct" in quotes for reason. The word noel it'self is SUPPOSED to be pn No-ELL like in the song "noel noel, born is the king of Israel"

I didn't say it was ONLY feminine, just that it can be because it is SUPPOSED to be said no-ell, also Noelle is FRENCH, so the American version of Noel will always be Noel, so to me it's unisex, because it's a WORD.

I was just pointing out for pn sake, use Knoll or Nole instead or else people will say No-ell, very are plenty of boys who do go by that pn as well in America because most people know that it's no-ell and that nohl is a mispronunciation if you live in the states.

[shanapops]

LOVE Noel, however I'd fear everyone thinking he was a girl until they saw him. Noel is so much more popular for girls and thus most people will just assume it's the girl name. What about using Nol as a nickname for Nolan? Or spelling it "Noll"

[titch]

Catloverd I understand what you you are saying about pronunciations but Noel ("Nole") isn't just a mispronunciation of the word Noel ("Noelle") because one is a bonified boys name and the other is a word. Of course Noel the name came frome Noel the word but Noel ("Nole") is an established name in it's own right and I can't imagine that anyone seeing Noel Smith written down would hear "Noelle" in their head because "Noelle" isn't a boys name! The female spelling of the word-inspired name is Noelle so I can't really see the confusion.

I hope that makes sense (it's hard to type sounds!) maybe it's because I'm British and Noel is instantly recognisable as a boys name there, same as in Australia where I live now.

ETA just noticed that you say lots of boys in the US do go by the Noelle pronunciation! That would confuse matters!

[epfrance]

I really don't like the name Noel, especially for a boy. I don't mind Noelle for girls, but I do think that in the US many people will pronounce it as no-ell like the Christmas carol. But if you don't mind having to correct people sometimes, and you love it, than go for it.

[tmcl15]

I absolutely love Noel! I have had the same concerns as you with it but would love to use it one day. I have also considersed Nolan, nickname Noel, what do you think of that?

[catloverd]

I live in America so yes I think the british and australian people probably recognize Noel as Nohl, but because it is more common there. Here in America, the Christmas Carroll is so prominent that all boys I met with the name Noel say it as "No-ell"

As I said before, it's a unisex name because it is a word. It means Christmas. It's not a "name" It fits in the same category as Violet, Juniper, Hazel, etc... it's a word! It's not boy or girl.

I'm just saying that if you want to avoid confusion and want the sound Nohl and you live in the states, Knoll or Nole is a safer option.....

Also I don't know how the British spell it, but Noelle is spelled Noel in the states.

[catheyc]

I live in the eastern U.S. and have known several male Noels (rhyming with Joel). I would always pronounce it that way and assume it is a boy. Noelle would be a girl. I believe the prn No-EL for a male Noel is French (this is based on the Countess's son in the Real Housewives of New York since they are French).

Noel Andrew is a wonderfully handsome name.