The wave head is difficult to identify because of the complexity of traveling wave signals in distribution networks. Therefore, this paper proposes a fault location method for distribution networks based on complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) and novel Teager energy operator (NTEO). Firstly, the CEEMDAN is used to denoise and decompose initial traveling wave signals, and fault characteristics of high?frequency components are enhanced by NTEO. Then, the initial traveling wave head reach time is accurately calibrated according to the instantaneous energy peak, thus the rapid and accurate fault location can be realized. Finally, Pscad/Matlab simulation results show that the proposed method can accurately locate faults with good adaptability to different fault types and transition resistances, and the ranging error can be controlled within 1%. Besides, compared with the traditional EMD method, it has higher location accuracy and faster calculation speed.