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Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Majel

Majel

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Majel

Pronounced muh-JEL /mΙ™ΛˆdΚ’Ι›l/Medium

Meaning: Majel most plausibly grew as a spelling variant of Mabel, which traces through the medieval Amabel to the Latin amabilis, meaning lovable, though its exact coinage is not certain.Low

In 30 seconds: Majel likely reshapes the classic Mabel, keeping the loving Latin root in a distinctive spelling with a soft j sound (said muh-JEL).
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Origin LowLatin, American
MeaningMajel most plausibly grew as a spelling variant of Mabel, which traces through the medieval Amabel to the Latin amabilis, meaning lovable, though its exact coinage is not certain.
U.S. rank (1960)#6937 β†˜ Falling
1960 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 349
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Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 192019011960

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

Majel is recorded from 1901 onward, peaking gently around 1920 before settling into rare, steady use through the mid-20th century.

It was never common, only a couple dozen girls a year even at its best, and it faded from wide use by 1960 even as isolated bearers kept it alive.

Did you know? Majel is best known through actress Majel Barrett, who voiced computer systems across the Star Trek franchise and gave the name its most visible carrier.
Overall data confidence 40%
References - Majel β€” Likely Mabel variant; Latin amabilis lovable; Majel Barrett as notable bearer

Variations

MabelMajelleMajella

Nicknames

MajMabel

Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Majel Barrett (1932-2008)
    American actress known for voicing computer systems in the Star Trek franchise

If you like Majel…

Mabelβ€” the likely source name Majel variants
Annabelβ€” shares the soft -bel/-jel vintage sound
Isabelβ€” another Latin-rooted classic of the era
Raquelβ€” matches the distinctive two-syllable stress pattern

Explore names like Majel

By themerarevintagerespellinglatin-root

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Majel mean?

It likely comes from Mabel, tracing through the medieval Amabel to the Latin amabilis, meaning lovable.

How do you pronounce Majel?

It's said muh-JEL /mΙ™ΛˆdΚ’Ι›l/, two syllables with the stress on the second.

Is Majel a boy or girl name?

Majel is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Majel?

It has always been rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year at its high point in the nineteen-twenties.

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