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Macel
Pronounced MAY-sul /ˈmeɪ.səl/Medium
Meaning: Macel is a rare early-1900s girls' name, most plausibly a contracted variant of Marcella (feminine of Marcus, 'warlike') or a reshaping of Mabel ('lovable'). The precise source varies and is not firmly documented.Low
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
Macel is a sparse name from the early 1900s whose origin is uncertain. It reads most naturally as a trimmed form of Marcella — the feminine of Roman Marcus, linked to Mars and 'warlike' — or as a variant of Mabel, from Latin amabilis, 'lovable'; sources are thin either way.
It peaked around 1917 and had faded by mid-century, always uncommon and Southern-leaning. A woman named Macel would be of a grandparent-or-older generation, and any confident meaning is offered cautiously given the unclear root.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Macel mean?
Macel is a vintage name of uncertain origin, likely tied to Marcella or Mabel.
How do you pronounce Macel?
It's said MAY-sul /ˈmeɪ.səl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Macel a boy or girl name?
Macel is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Macel?
Macel was always rare in the U.S., a scarce early twentieth-century name now essentially gone.