Natal as an adjective refers to birth. As a proper noun, Natal may refer to: Places Natal as a place name usually relates to the fact that Natal's the Portuguese word for Christmas. For example, Vasco da Gama named the South African region of Natal after his landing there on Christmas Day 1497, and the village that became Natal, Brazil, was founded on Christmas Day 1599. See also Christmas Island (disambiguation). Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, a city in Brazil Natal, Indonesia, a town on Sumatr… (More on Natal)