Fun Facts About the Name Mabel
- An established favorite: Mabel held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 43 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1922.
- More than 142 thousand babies named Mabel: U.S. records list 142,685 babies given the name Mabel from 1880 through 2025. Even 409 boys received the name Mabel - about 1 boy for every 348 girls.
What Does the Name Mabel Mean?
Mabel is an English feminine name meaning "lovable." It comes through Old French from the Latin adjective amabilis, "lovable, worthy of love," formed from amare ("to love") and the suffix -abilis ("capable or worthy of"). In medieval English, the fuller form Amabel was also used; Mabel is generally explained as a shortened or familiar form of Amabel, with the initial A- dropped in everyday speech. The literal sense is "lovable," not a symbolic trait assigned later. The similar spelling Mabelle is sometimes linked to French ma belle ("my beautiful"), but that phrase is not the usual derivation of Mabel.
Mabel Name History & Origins
Names from Latin amabilis entered England after the Norman Conquest through Old French. Amabel and Mabel are both found in medieval English records; Mabel appears as a shortened everyday form, and medieval Latin records use Mabilia. The name was used by Norman and English families in the Middle Ages, as in Mabel de Bellême, an 11th-century Norman noblewoman who married Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury. In Ireland, the name was later used as an English equivalent of Máible, the Irish form of the same Latin-derived name.
In the 19th century, Mabel Tolkien (1870 - 1904), mother of J. R. R. Tolkien, was one bearer of the name. The name also appears in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance (1879), where Mabel is a principal character. These later uses are separate from the name's medieval origin.
How Popular is the Name Mabel?
Mabel remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1922. Its highest annual birth count was in 1915, and people born that year turn 111 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #201 | 1,522 | 0.0947% |
| 2024 | #222 | 1,380 | 0.0855% |
| 2023 | #278 | 1,130 | 0.0705% |
| 2022 | #310 | 1,026 | 0.0626% |
| 2021 | #375 | 831 | 0.0507% |
| 2020 | #428 | 717 | 0.0444% |
| 2019 | #440 | 712 | 0.0424% |
| 2018 | #438 | 727 | 0.0428% |
| 2017 | #452 | 703 | 0.0407% |
| 2016 | #515 | 605 | 0.0342% |
| 2015 | #578 | 529 | 0.0296% |
| 2014 | #669 | 427 | 0.0239% |
| 2013 | #711 | 393 | 0.0224% |
| 2012 | #1,046 | 241 | 0.0137% |
| 2011 | #1,227 | 196 | 0.0111% |
| 2010 | #1,332 | 177 | 0.0100% |
| 2009 | #1,542 | 147 | 0.0080% |
| 2008 | #1,632 | 139 | 0.0074% |
| 2007 | #1,718 | 127 | 0.0066% |
| 2006 | #1,791 | 116 | 0.0061% |
| 2005 | #1,846 | 106 | 0.0057% |
| 2004 | #2,034 | 90 | 0.0049% |
| 2003 | #1,891 | 97 | 0.0053% |
| 2002 | #1,907 | 93 | 0.0052% |
| 2001 | #2,044 | 83 | 0.0046% |
| 2000 | #2,152 | 75 | 0.0041% |
| 1999 | #1,779 | 90 | 0.0051% |
| 1998 | #1,969 | 77 | 0.0044% |
| 1997 | #2,911 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1996 | #2,299 | 58 | 0.0033% |
| 1995 | #2,442 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1994 | #1,881 | 76 | 0.0043% |
| 1993 | #2,105 | 65 | 0.0036% |
| 1992 | #1,812 | 80 | 0.0043% |
| 1991 | #1,888 | 75 | 0.0040% |
| 1990 | #1,839 | 78 | 0.0041% |
| 1989 | #1,990 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 1988 | #1,364 | 105 | 0.0059% |
| 1987 | #1,506 | 86 | 0.0049% |
| 1986 | #1,648 | 72 | 0.0042% |
| 1985 | #1,722 | 67 | 0.0039% |
| 1984 | #1,523 | 75 | 0.0045% |
| 1983 | #1,547 | 73 | 0.0044% |
| 1982 | #1,577 | 75 | 0.0044% |
| 1981 | #1,428 | 86 | 0.0052% |
| 1980 | #1,549 | 76 | 0.0046% |
| 1979 | #1,616 | 70 | 0.0044% |
| 1978 | #1,698 | 62 | 0.0040% |
| 1977 | #1,647 | 64 | 0.0042% |
| 1976 | #1,402 | 76 | 0.0052% |
| 1975 | #1,506 | 68 | 0.0047% |
| 1974 | #1,308 | 82 | 0.0056% |
| 1973 | #1,471 | 65 | 0.0045% |
| 1972 | #1,438 | 68 | 0.0045% |
| 1971 | #1,413 | 75 | 0.0045% |
| 1970 | #1,590 | 60 | 0.0034% |
| 1969 | #1,203 | 86 | 0.0051% |
| 1968 | #1,320 | 71 | 0.0043% |
| 1967 | #1,277 | 72 | 0.0044% |
| 1966 | #1,168 | 84 | 0.0050% |
| 1965 | #1,083 | 94 | 0.0053% |
| 1964 | #947 | 124 | 0.0065% |
| 1963 | #960 | 122 | 0.0063% |
| 1962 | #948 | 126 | 0.0064% |
| 1961 | #914 | 140 | 0.0069% |
| 1960 | #916 | 134 | 0.0066% |
| 1959 | #877 | 140 | 0.0069% |
| 1958 | #890 | 132 | 0.0066% |
| 1957 | #755 | 175 | 0.0086% |
| 1956 | #716 | 181 | 0.0090% |
| 1955 | #672 | 194 | 0.0099% |
| 1954 | #707 | 173 | 0.0089% |
| 1953 | #636 | 197 | 0.0105% |
| 1952 | #593 | 216 | 0.0116% |
| 1951 | #608 | 200 | 0.0111% |
| 1950 | #549 | 228 | 0.0133% |
| 1949 | #514 | 253 | 0.0148% |
| 1948 | #453 | 311 | 0.0183% |
| 1947 | #443 | 345 | 0.0195% |
| 1946 | #421 | 334 | 0.0213% |
| 1945 | #379 | 344 | 0.0263% |
| 1944 | #351 | 387 | 0.0292% |
| 1943 | #319 | 478 | 0.0343% |
| 1942 | #304 | 513 | 0.0380% |
| 1941 | #285 | 507 | 0.0420% |
| 1940 | #265 | 548 | 0.0479% |
| 1939 | #256 | 593 | 0.0541% |
| 1938 | #245 | 674 | 0.0611% |
| 1937 | #233 | 697 | 0.0655% |
| 1936 | #222 | 743 | 0.0714% |
| 1935 | #208 | 826 | 0.0788% |
| 1934 | #209 | 850 | 0.0814% |
| 1933 | #196 | 875 | 0.0868% |
| 1932 | #171 | 1,111 | 0.1041% |
| 1931 | #174 | 1,060 | 0.0996% |
| 1930 | #150 | 1,369 | 0.1216% |
| 1929 | #147 | 1,516 | 0.1358% |
| 1928 | #135 | 1,742 | 0.1510% |
| 1927 | #133 | 1,954 | 0.1639% |
| 1926 | #127 | 2,076 | 0.1751% |
| 1925 | #118 | 2,292 | 0.1883% |
| 1924 | #108 | 2,652 | 0.2124% |
| 1923 | #102 | 2,696 | 0.2235% |
| 1922 | #99 | 2,894 | 0.2410% |
| 1921 | #85 | 3,336 | 0.2705% |
| 1920 | #83 | 3,364 | 0.2807% |
| 1919 | #78 | 3,405 | 0.3013% |
| 1918 | #74 | 3,636 | 0.3141% |
| 1917 | #68 | 3,499 | 0.3236% |
| 1916 | #65 | 3,680 | 0.3524% |
| 1915 | #62 | 3,683 | 0.3743% |
| 1914 | #58 | 3,131 | 0.4111% |
| 1913 | #56 | 2,741 | 0.4389% |
| 1912 | #46 | 2,714 | 0.4863% |
| 1911 | #43 | 2,171 | 0.5190% |
| 1910 | #46 | 2,123 | 0.5354% |
| 1909 | #41 | 2,007 | 0.5780% |
| 1908 | #37 | 2,096 | 0.6270% |
| 1907 | #36 | 2,069 | 0.6495% |
| 1906 | #34 | 2,054 | 0.6956% |
| 1905 | #29 | 2,178 | 0.7469% |
| 1904 | #27 | 2,172 | 0.7888% |
| 1903 | #25 | 2,163 | 0.8257% |
| 1902 | #24 | 2,280 | 0.8634% |
| 1901 | #24 | 2,097 | 0.8761% |
| 1900 | #25 | 2,509 | 0.8369% |
| 1899 | #22 | 2,127 | 0.9128% |
| 1898 | #23 | 2,331 | 0.9008% |
| 1897 | #22 | 2,222 | 0.9488% |
| 1896 | #21 | 2,283 | 0.9596% |
| 1895 | #20 | 2,359 | 1.0097% |
| 1894 | #20 | 2,221 | 0.9963% |
| 1893 | #21 | 2,191 | 1.0291% |
| 1892 | #19 | 2,170 | 1.0220% |
| 1891 | #15 | 2,029 | 1.0939% |
| 1890 | #17 | 2,058 | 1.0810% |
| 1889 | #16 | 1,947 | 1.0916% |
| 1888 | #17 | 1,830 | 1.0245% |
| 1887 | #18 | 1,494 | 1.0234% |
| 1886 | #20 | 1,422 | 0.9839% |
| 1885 | #20 | 1,349 | 1.0139% |
| 1884 | #20 | 1,270 | 0.9844% |
| 1883 | #23 | 1,086 | 0.9669% |
| 1882 | #23 | 997 | 0.9245% |
| 1881 | #23 | 893 | 0.9711% |
| 1880 | #22 | 808 | 0.8880% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | #3,763 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1937 | #3,841 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1934 | #3,536 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1933 | #3,176 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #3,619 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1931 | #3,620 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1930 | #2,923 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1929 | #2,882 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1928 | #3,579 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1927 | #4,566 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1926 | #3,290 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #3,298 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #4,726 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #3,682 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1922 | #4,129 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #4,727 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #3,111 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1919 | #3,616 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1918 | #3,014 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1917 | #1,874 | 17 | 0.0018% |
| 1916 | #3,734 | 6 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #2,132 | 13 | 0.0015% |
| 1914 | #1,925 | 12 | 0.0018% |
| 1913 | #2,194 | 8 | 0.0016% |
| 1912 | #1,250 | 15 | 0.0035% |
| 1911 | #1,170 | 10 | 0.0044% |
| 1910 | #1,091 | 10 | 0.0051% |
| 1909 | #933 | 11 | 0.0067% |
| 1908 | #808 | 12 | 0.0078% |
| 1907 | #845 | 11 | 0.0075% |
| 1906 | #832 | 10 | 0.0075% |
| 1905 | #1,048 | 7 | 0.0053% |
| 1904 | #710 | 12 | 0.0094% |
| 1903 | #886 | 8 | 0.0067% |
| 1902 | #673 | 12 | 0.0098% |
| 1901 | #625 | 12 | 0.0113% |
| 1900 | #1,014 | 8 | 0.0053% |
| 1899 | #1,004 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1898 | #953 | 7 | 0.0057% |
| 1897 | #707 | 10 | 0.0089% |
| 1894 | #1,033 | 6 | 0.0052% |
| 1893 | #686 | 10 | 0.0089% |
| 1891 | #744 | 8 | 0.0079% |
| 1890 | #790 | 8 | 0.0072% |
| 1889 | #856 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1887 | #1,006 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1886 | #922 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1885 | #812 | 7 | 0.0065% |
| 1883 | #852 | 6 | 0.0057% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Mabel
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Mabel Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Mabel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Mabel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.