How to say it
MA · bel
ˈmeɪ.bəl
Feminine
Mabel
Lovable
What it means
From the medieval Latin amabilis ('lovable, beloved'), shortened to Mabel. Top-50 name in late-19th-century US, then dropped sharply through the mid-20th, now climbing again as part of the vintage-revival wave.
Mabel comes from the medieval Latin amabilis ('lovable, beloved'), the same root as English 'amiable.' The full form Amabel was the medieval English given name, with Mabel as its short form; over time the short replaced the long. Mabel peaked in the late-19th-century US (it was a top-50 name around 1890), then dropped through the mid-20th century as it acquired a granny-name association. The Gravity Falls (2012-2016) character Mabel Pines gave the name decisive Gen-Z anchor. It's been climbing the US charts since 2014 with the broader vintage-name revival. May and Mae are the common shorts.
How to spell Mabel
The standard spelling is Mabel. Common variants include Mabelle, Maybell, but Mabel is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #15 in 1891, currently #201 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Mabel Pines from Gravity Falls (2012-2016) is the dominant Gen-Z anchor; the historical Mabels are all 19th-century.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Mabel Pines Disney's Gravity Falls, the optimistic twin who runs on glitter and grappling hooks
Spelling variants
- Mabelle
- Maybell
Names with the same feeling
See Mabel from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Mabel mean?
- From the medieval Latin amabilis ('lovable, beloved'), shortened to Mabel. Top-50 name in late-19th-century US, then dropped sharply through the mid-20th, now climbing again as part of the vintage-revival wave.
- What does Mabel mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Mabel means "Lovable." Mabel comes from the medieval Latin amabilis ('lovable, beloved'), the same root as English 'amiable.' The full form Amabel was the medieval English given name, with Mabel as its short form; over time the short replaced the long. Mabel peaked in the late-19th-century US (it was a top-50 name around 1890), then dropped through the mid-20th century as it acquired a granny-name association. The Gravity Falls (2012-2016) character Mabel Pines gave the name decisive Gen-Z anchor. It's been climbing the US charts since 2014 with the broader vintage-name revival. May and Mae are the common shorts.
- How do you pronounce Mabel?
- Mabel is pronounced ˈmeɪ.bəl. Say it as MA-bel, with the stress on the "ma" syllable.
- How do you spell Mabel?
- The standard spelling is Mabel. Common spelling variants include Mabelle, Maybell.
- Is Mabel a boy or girl name?
- Mabel is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Mabel?
- Mabel ranked #201 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.