Annabelle is a charming and distinctive given name of French origin. It is composed of two elements: "Anna," which means "grace" or "favor," and "Belle," meaning "beautiful." Therefore, the name Annabelle signifies "beautiful grace."
The name Annabelle has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages in France. It was first used as a diminutive form of Anne or Anna, combining the French word for beautiful, belle, with the popular names Anne and Anna.
In medieval times, Annabelle was not widely used as a given name. However, it began to gain popularity during the 19th century in France and other European countries. Since then, Annabelle has been adopted by many families around the world, becoming a classic yet unique choice for a baby girl's name.
Today, Annabelle is still a popular name, often ranked among the top 500 names for newborn girls in various English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Its popularity can be attributed to its sweet sound, memorable spelling, and meaningful signification of "beautiful grace."
While the name Annabelle may be associated with fictional characters like the doll from the horror movie franchise "Annabelle," it is essential to remember that this name has a rich history and cultural significance beyond its pop culture references.
In conclusion, Annabelle is a captivating given name with French roots, combining the meanings of "grace" and "beautiful." Its usage dates back centuries but has only recently gained widespread popularity in English-speaking countries. This charming and distinctive name continues to be beloved by parents looking for an elegant yet unique choice for their baby girl.
It seems like the popularity of the name Annabelle has gone through significant fluctuations over time. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, there were relatively few births named Annabelle each year, ranging from just 9 in 1880 to a peak of 240 in 1913. However, starting around the mid-1990s, there was a sharp increase in the number of babies named Annabelle, reaching an all-time high of 4363 births in 2014. Since then, the popularity of the name has decreased, with only 905 births recorded in 2023. Overall, over the course of 143 years, a total of 65720 babies have been named Annabelle.