Name of the Day: Annabel
On the heels of Halloween, here’s a haunting choice – and a current one, too.
Thanks to Liz for suggesting Annabel as Name of the Day.
If you’ve been here before, you might blink at Annabel. My rule of thumb is to use most common variant of the name as the post’s title – so the Name of the Day should be Annabelle. Ranked #188 in the US as of 2008, Annabelle is quite current, while Annabel remains relatively obscure, at #801.
But pumpkins are still on my doorstep, so I’m opting to use the spare, tragic Annabel of Edgar Allen Poe’s 1849 poem Annabel Lee. Like many of his dark and gloomy works, Poe’s lament concerned a beautiful maiden who died too young. A more cheerful Annabel was imagined by L. Frank Baum a few years later, in 1906, though he published the novel under a pseudonym.
From the late nineteenth century right into the 1930s, Annabel was in use. She peaked at #467 in 1880, suggesting that her best years were behind her. Annabelle made it as high as #254 in 1924, but she, too, fell out of use by 1950. Frilly valentines Annabella and Anabella were unranked until recently.
If Annabel and company are revival names, they’re less about the nineteenth century and more about the Middle Ages. Many trace Annabel back to a pair of saints, one male and one female, both sharing the Latin name Amabilis.
In the fifth century, Amabilis served as a parish priest in Riom. His name was probably closer to Amable. Visit his French hometown today, and the central church is still named in his honor.
Two centuries later, a princess wore a similar name. She became a nun, and later a saint, in Rouen. Records list her as Saint Amabilis, too.
One or both inspired the medieval name Amabel, the source of late 19th century favorite Mabel. Variants abound – Amabilia, Amiable, Amice and Mabella were all seen, too. Even without the saints, it is easy to see the appeal of names related to the Latin amicus – friend.
Amabel morphed into Annabel sometime after the 700s, either because parents linked the saint’s name to Anna, or because of a misspelling. (Think of Innogen/Imogen.)
Others have argued that she’s just a lovely smoosh of Anna and Belle, and some make the case that Annabel is actually related to Norman or Gaelic elements.
Regardless, she’s appealed to parents for centuries. It’s said that the Duchess of York wanted to name her firstborn Annabel but was persuaded to choose Beatrice instead.
Maybe that’s because of Annabel’s, the glamorous London nightclub known for hosting Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross and more. (The club was named after the owner’s wife, an aristocratic Annabel. Viscountess Astor is an Annabel, too.)
The rise of Isabella boosted all of the -bella names, but Annabelle most of all. This either makes Annabel and friends either the perfect choice for parents seeking something just a little different, or one that seems a bit too familiar. But with plenty of nickname options – besides Annie and Bella, you might even use Abby as a contracted form – there’s much to like about Annabel.
Filed under: Literary Babes, Names for Girls, Names of the Day, Saints | 16 Comments
Tags: Abby, Amabel, Amabilia, Amabilis, Amable, Amiable, Amice, Anabella, Anna, Annabel, Annabella, Annabelle, Annie, Bella, Belle, Isabella, Mabel, Mabella
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Thank you for doing Annabel! She’s currently my favorite first middle name (Violet Annabelle Faye), though I can’t commit to a spelling.
I love how lovely, simple and classic it is while still beig very feminine. Annabel and all her variants would serve a girl well.
Annabel is really pretty. Its not a favorite but I think Annabel is a lot cleaner and graceful looking than the frilly Annabelle.
My husband sends his thanks to you and Edgar Allen Poe for ensuring I never nag him again about naming a next daughter Annabel. His surname has been the bane of my baby naming existence.
I love Annabel, and this less frilly ersion is definitely my favorite. However, having a dog named Annapolis, whom we call Annie, and with all the -bella/belle names right now, there’s no way it would ever get on my list.
It’s nice. Annabel is my preferred spelling although I don’t really care how it’s dressed as long as it’s not Annibell which I have seen and it makes me twitch.
Isabel/Isabelle etc.. has made me wary of -bel names but I really can’t fault Annabel at all.
I’d probably just default to the lovely old Annie if I used it and Annabel would go to waste.
Ugh. Annibell is atrocious. I prefer Annabel, but I don’t mind seeing Annabelle’s when I’m combing through Birth Announcements for my blog. Annibell makes me twitch too.
I’ve never really been fond of Annabel (although I do prefer that spelling to Annabelle). The name has always seemed quite ersatz princess-y to me — albeit with a somewhat quirky edge since my quirky friend Anna used to get her teachers to call her Annabel!
I don’t know why, but spelt the more popular way the name makes me think of a cow.
I’m with everyone else, I like Annabel more than Annabelle but with a neice, Isabelle, this and every other “bel / belle” name will never be on the cards for me.
I love Annabel. Edgar Allen Poe is the writer who made me fall in love with books/poetry. Annabel is so round and classic. I think she’ll always be young and beautiful.
Annabel is a very likable name perfectly lovely for another persons child, but I’m a little tired of the -bel and -elle names. However, I do have a soft spot for Amabel, but I fear a child named Amabel will be correcting people constantly.
To go with Anabel, what about Lenore for a name of the day?
I love the name Annabel. She’s a middle name choice for me too just because of how popular Isabella is right now, but I do love her.
Annabel is a lovely choice, but it does seem to be on the rise since its similar to Anna and Isabelle. I love the Edgar Allan Poe reference.
I like it Anabel but my husband thinks it’s too girly.
What about Leonie?
What are other -bel names?
I came to this site looking for information about another old southern name (Eulalie) and found my own! My parents named me after the poem and people are always telling me how lovely my name is and how much they like to say it. I’m a writer now and I have always treasured that my name was from a poem (though I do always joke that I was named after a fictional dead girl who some guy was still mooning over).
When I was younger, I asked my mom why she didn’t use the spelling “Annabelle.” She said it reminded of her a cow.
I have never had a nickname. I’ve been called Annabel my whole life, and it’s caused me no trouble at all.
My husband and I struggled for months to agree on a girl’s name (boys were so easy for us). We were thinking of Annalee (after a river in Ireland) but my father-in-law brought up Poe’s poem, and I loved the name. We wanted a classic, traditional name, but not one that 4 other girls in her class at school would have. So my 4 month old daughter is Annabel Lee and I thought we would call her Annie as a nickname, but we just loved Annabel so much, and that’s what she is…
So nice to hear all the praise for Annabel, and specifically that spelling. I wanted something feminine with some history, but nothing too stodgy. Annabel is a bit quirky and has a sense of humor about it–just like my daughter. We wanted something with an Irish/English feel and decided on Annabel to appease a grandmother who couldn’t believe that I wanted to break with tradition and not give my daughter the middle name Ann. My daughter is now almost 4 and we really think the name suits her. We often call her Annie as well. BTW, if you are considering this name, be prepared for people (who have never heard of the poem or aren’t British) to ask you why you “made up the spelling.” It can be quite frustrating.