Cabell

A boy's name of Old French origin with 87 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A surname.

Cabell is a boy's baby name of Old French origin, from the Norman word for 'rope-maker' or a variant of the place name. American novelist James Branch Cabell made the name literary.

Cabell has a Southern literary aristocracy — a name of Virginia gentility and imaginative fiction.

EtymologyShow more

Cabell is built from 6 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Old French naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.

The interplay of consonants and vowels in Cabell creates its characteristic sharp, distinct quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.

At a Glance

Unranked

Current Rank

Total births

Since 1915

1920

Peak year

14 births

Compare Cabell with another name

Popularity Over Time

Cabell has 13+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1915.

First appeared: 1915Peak: 1920 (14 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Cabell
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2010s	6	#10992	▼
1950s	11	#3731	▼
1940s	18	#3208	▲
1930s	10	#3776	▼
1920s	27	#3190	▲
1910s	15	#3134	—

The Story of Cabell

A Greatest Generation name

Peaking in 1920, Cabell is a name steeped in history. Boys named Cabell are most likely born between 1915 and 1930.

How rare is Cabell?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Cabell is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1915, peaked in the 1920s with 27 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Cabell by the numbers

Would fill 2 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(13 years, 1915–2012)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Cabell
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2012	6	#10992	+1 (20.0%)
1957	5	#4061	-1 (-16.7%)
1951	6	#3400	0
1949	6	#3354	-1 (-14.3%)
1945	7	#2776	+2 (40.0%)
1944	5	#3494	0
1933	5	#3716	0
1931	5	#3836	-1 (-16.7%)
1926	6	#3761	-1 (-14.3%)
1921	7	#3569	-7 (-50.0%)
1920	14	#2240	+7 (100.0%)
1918	7	#3408	-1 (-12.5%)
1915	8	#2859	—

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabell a boy's or girl's name?

Cabell is primarily a boy's name.

When was Cabell most popular?

Cabell reached its peak popularity in 1920 with 14 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Cabell?

Cabell is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 87 babies in the U.S. since 1915. Its peak was in 1920.

Explore More

By Length6-letter names By OriginOld French names By EndingNames in -l TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1915–2012