Fabiola is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Roman family name Fabius, which derives from the Latin word 'faba', meaning 'bean'. The name Fabiola was popularized by Saint Fabiola, who was a wealthy Roman widow in the fourth century known for her charity and generosity. She founded a hospital and dedicated herself to helping the poor and sick. Despite its early Christian associations, Fabiola remains a secular name today, popular across many cultures and languages. It has been used in various forms throughout history, such as Fabia, Fabiana, Fabienne, and Fabiola. In English-speaking countries, Fabiola is often associated with the character Fabiola from Charlotte Brontë's novel "The Professor". However, its use spans far beyond literature, making it a timeless and universal choice for parents seeking a classic yet distinctive name for their daughter.
Based on the statistics provided, Fabiola was a moderately popular girls' name in the United States during the late 20th century. The name first appeared in the top 1000 names list in 1985 with five births that year. This popularity was maintained in the following year as there were also five births recorded for Fabiola in 1986.
The number of newborn girls named Fabiola peaked in 1993, with a total of ten births recorded that year. This suggests that during this time, more parents were choosing Fabiola as their daughter's name compared to previous years. However, it is important to note that even at its peak popularity, Fabiola was still not one of the most common girls' names in the United States.
Following 1993, the popularity of Fabiola began to decline, with seven births recorded each year from 1994 to 1996. In 1997, there were six newborn girls named Fabiola. This indicates a steady decrease in parents choosing this name for their daughters during these years.
Overall, between 1985 and 1997, there were a total of fifty-three girls named Fabiola born in the United States. While this number represents only a small fraction of the millions of babies born each year during this period, it does demonstrate that Fabiola was a name chosen by some parents for their daughters during these years. It is also interesting to observe how the popularity of Fabiola varied over time, with its peak occurring in 1993 and then declining afterward.