Mabel

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAY-bul /ˈmeɪbəl/High

Meaning: Lovable, dearHigh

In 30 seconds: A warm, lovable Victorian classic meaning 'dear.' Mabel has shaken off its great-grandmother image and emerged as one of the most charming vintage revivals — sweet without being saccharine.

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Origin HighLatin, English

MeaningLovable, dear

U.S. rank (2025)#201 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births1,522 girls (0.09% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1915

Total births (all-time)≈ 142,276

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Mabel is a medieval English contraction of Amabel, itself derived from the Latin amabilis meaning 'lovable.' The name was common in Norman England after the Conquest and appears in 12th- and 13th-century records. It gradually contracted from Amabel through Mabilia to Mabel.

Mabel was one of the most popular girls' names in the English-speaking world in the late 19th century, reaching the U.S. top 10. It declined sharply in the mid-20th century but has experienced a vigorous revival since the 2010s, returning to the top 500 in the U.S. and top 100 in the U.K. and Australia.

Did you know? Mabel is a contracted medieval form of Amabilis, a Latin name meaning 'lovable' — the same root that gives us the word amiable.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Mabel — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AmabelMabelleMable

Nicknames

MaeMabsBelle

Famous Bearers

★Mabel Normand (1892–1930)
American silent-film actress and comedienne, one of the biggest stars of the silent era.

If you like Mabel…

Hazel— vintage botanical revival with the same warm, two-syllable charm

Maeve— short, sweet vintage name with the same comeback energy

Edith— Edwardian classic undergoing the same enthusiastic revival

Pearl— beloved Victorian gem name with the same nostalgic sweetness

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mabel mean?

Mabel is a medieval contraction of Amabel, derived from Latin amabilis meaning 'lovable' or 'dear.'

How do you pronounce Mabel?

It is said MAY-bul /ˈmeɪbəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Mabel a boy or girl name?

Mabel is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Mabel?

Mabel has been strongly reviving and ranked in the U.S. top 300 for girls in 2025.