Fable

♂ Boy

Pronounced FAY-bul /ˈfeɪ.bəl/High

Meaning: Fable is the English word used as a given name. It comes from Latin fabula, 'story; tale', from fari, 'to speak'. As a name it is brand-new and belongs to the modern fashion for literary word-names; it is used for both boys and girls.High

In 30 seconds: The word itself: a fable is a story with a moral, from Latin fabula, 'tale' (said 'FAY-bul'). A new word-name.

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Origin MediumEnglish, Latin

MeaningFable is the English word used as a given name. It comes from Latin fabula, 'story; tale', from fari, 'to speak'. As a name it is brand-new and belongs to the modern fashion for literary word-names; it is used for both boys and girls.

U.S. rank (2023)#12809 ↘ Falling

2023 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 22

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Fable is the English word pressed into service as a given name. It descends from Latin fabula, 'story; tale', itself from fari, 'to speak' — the same root as 'fate' and 'infant' (one who cannot yet speak). A fable, strictly, is a short tale with a moral, often with animals as characters, in the tradition of Aesop. As a name it is very new and thoroughly modern, and is used for boys and girls alike (said 'FAY-bul').

It appears only very rarely for boys in the U.S. and is newly emerging. Rare, literary, and unisex in use.

Did you know? Fable is a word-name, plain and simple — from Latin fabula, 'tale', built on fari, 'to speak'. It joins Story, Poet and Sonnet in a small, growing family of literary names, and is used for both boys and girls.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Fable — English word-name; Latin fabula 'tale'; modern unisex given-name use

Variations

FabelFabianFabl

Nicknames

FayFab

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Fable mean?

Fable is the English word for a short story with a moral, from Latin fabula, 'tale'.

How do you pronounce Fable?

It's said FAY-bul /ˈfeɪ.bəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Fable a boy or girl name?

Fable is used here as a boy's name; it is used for girls too.

How popular is Fable?

Fable is very rare and newly emerging in the U.S.