ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2734
http://www.s-gabriel.org/2734
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NOTE: This report was originally sent as a direct reply, and therefore is
not as reliable as regular Academy reports.

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Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!

We've found just one instance of <Noelle> in pre-1600 sources, in 14th
century Picardy [1].  We doubt the name was used much earlier -- the
word <noel> itself didn't appear until 1175 [2] -- and <Noelle>
clearly didn't become popular until much later.  It also seems to be a
development unique to the northern -- and perhaps the northwestern --
parts of France.  

   Arval
   for the Academy
   24 Jun 2002


[1] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de
personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens,
Musee de Picardie, 1967), p.117. 

[2] Robert, Paul, _Le Petit Robert 1: Dictionnaire alphabe/tique et
analogique de la langue franc,ais_ (Paris: Le Robert, 1985), s.v.
noel.