Mabel is a charming and distinctive name with a fascinating history. It is of Latin origin and means "lovable" or "dear". The name is derived from the Latin word "amabilis", which means "lovable" or "pleasing".
The use of Mabel as a given name can be traced back to medieval England, where it was often used as a diminutive form of names such as Amabel and Emmeline. In fact, in some cases, Mabel may have been used simply as a pet name for these longer names.
Over time, Mabel became established as a given name in its own right and gained popularity during the Victorian era in England. Today, it is still considered a classic and elegant choice for a girl's name.
One of the most famous bearers of this name was Queen Mary I of Scotland, also known as Mary, Queen of Scots. She ruled Scotland from 1542 until her deposition in 1567 and was known for her beauty and charm, qualities that are fitting with the meaning of her name Mabel.
Overall, Mabel is a charming and elegant name with a rich history and a lovely meaning. It is perfect for parents looking for a classic yet distinctive name for their daughter.
The name Mabell experienced varying popularity throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. Between 1881 and 1935, there were a total of 606 babies named Mabell.
The peak years for this name seem to be around the turn of the century, with 17 births in 1899 and 14 births in 1900. This popularity continued into the early 1900s, with 22 births in 1911 and 30 births in 1916.
However, after 1916, the popularity of the name Mabell began to decline steadily. By the 1920s and 1930s, there were fewer than 10 babies named Mabell each year, with some years as low as 5 births.
Despite this decline in popularity, it is interesting to note that even after a gap of nearly five decades, the name Mabell re-emerged in 1981 with another 5 births. This demonstrates that unique and historic names can sometimes experience resurgences in popularity many years after they were initially popular.
Overall, while the name Mabell may not have been one of the most popular choices for baby girls throughout history, it has still been given to a significant number of babies over time, with its peak popularity occurring around the early 1900s.