Girl · Latin (via Old French) · International
Mabel
MabelSay it MAY-bul
Mabel meaning
Mabel is an international girl's name of Latin origin (via Old French).
Lovable; short for Amabel, from Latin amabilis
Mabel is a shortened form of Amabel, a girl's name recorded in England from about 1200. The Online Etymology Dictionary traces Amabel to Latin amabilis, "lovable, pleasant", from the verb amare, "to love", the same root as amiable and Amy. Lewis & Short define amabilis as worthy of love, lovely and amiable. Over time the shortened Mabel replaced the longer Amabel as the everyday form. It is said MAY-bul. For Indian families it has the same warm sense as names such as Priya or Preeti, and it is easy to spell and say.
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com) · entry Mabel · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Mabel · Lewis & Short, amabilis (Logeion)
Famous namesakes
- Mabel Normand, American silent-film comedian
Popularity abroad
- #201 United States, girls 2025 (up 21 from 222 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #16 England and Wales, girls 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Mabel · Maybelle · Mable