Mabell
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Mabel, meaning "lovable".
Name Census estimates that about 17 living Americans carry the first name Mabell. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Mabell today is around 85 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mabell births was 1916 (30 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mabell. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Mabell is about 85 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Mabells were born before 1951.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mabell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
17
~ 1 in 20,162,020 Americans
Peak year
1916
30 babies that year
Average age
85
years old
1981 SSA rank
#11,389
Tracked since 1881
Popularity
Mabell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mabell from the 1880s through to the 1980s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 190 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mabell by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Mabell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mabells live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Mabell, while North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 21 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Mabell
The name Mabell is believed to have originated from the medieval English and French feminine name Mabel, which was derived from the Latin name Amabilis, meaning "lovable" or "amiable." It gained popularity during the Middle Ages across various parts of Europe.
The earliest known record of the name Mabell dates back to the 12th century, when it was mentioned in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name was particularly common in England and France during this period.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Mabell was Mabell Stanhope (1497-1556), an English noblewoman and Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Mary I. She played a significant role in the English Reformation and was a staunch Catholic.
Another prominent individual was Mabell Ogilvy (1588-1638), a Scottish courtier and Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Anne of Denmark. She was known for her involvement in various court intrigues and political affairs during the reign of King James VI of Scotland and I of England.
In the literary world, Mabell Shee (1615-1690) was an Irish poet and playwright who wrote several plays and poems in the English language. Her works were celebrated for their wit and eloquence.
Moving to the 19th century, Mabell Winifred Airlie (1857-1928) was a British author and philanthropist known for her charitable work and contributions to children's literature. She wrote several books for young readers, including "The Fairy Book" and "The Little Princess of the Tower."
Additionally, Mabell Countess Airlie (1872-1967) was a British aristocrat and social reformer who actively advocated for women's rights and was involved in various philanthropic causes during her lifetime.
While the name Mabell experienced a decline in popularity over the centuries, it has maintained a sense of historical significance and connection to its medieval roots, serving as a reminder of the rich tapestry of names and their enduring legacies across different cultures and eras.
People
Mabell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mabell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Mabell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mabell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 17 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mabell going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 20,162,020 US residents.
Is Mabell a common name?
We classify Mabell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 37.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 606 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mabell most popular?
The single biggest year for Mabell was 1916, when 30 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mabell is about 85 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mabell a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mabell in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.