UK girl's name
Abela
A feminine given name of Russian origin meaning "tender, gentle".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Abela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Abela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2011 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Abela is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Abela. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Abela ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 3 girls were registered as Abela.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Abela mean?
The name Abela is of Maltese origin and is believed to have its roots in the Arabic language. The name is derived from the Arabic word "abila," which means "modest" or "humble." This suggests that the name was originally given to individuals who were perceived to possess these qualities.
The earliest known record of the name Abela can be traced back to the 16th century on the island of Malta, which has a rich cultural heritage influenced by various civilizations, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Arabs. During this time, the name was primarily used within the Maltese Christian community.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Abela was Gian Francesco Abela, a Maltese historian and writer born in 1582. He is best known for his work "Della Descrittione di Malta" (Description of Malta), a comprehensive historical account of the island's past, published in 1647.
Another notable figure bearing the name Abela was Maria Adeodata Abela, a Maltese nun who lived in the 18th century. She founded the Convent of St. Catherine in Żejtun, Malta, and was renowned for her piety and charitable works.
In the 19th century, Fortunato Abela, a Maltese painter and sculptor, gained recognition for his artwork depicting religious themes and scenes from Maltese life. He was born in 1835 and was considered one of the most prominent artists of his time in Malta.
Moving into the 20th century, Alfredo Abela, a Maltese architect and civil engineer born in 1906, left his mark on the architectural landscape of Malta. He designed several prominent buildings, including the National Library of Malta and the Auberge d'Aragon in Valletta.
More recently, in the field of literature, Mary Abela, a Maltese writer and poet born in 1954, has made significant contributions to the island's cultural heritage. Her works often explore themes of identity, belonging, and the Maltese experience.
While the name Abela has its origins in Malta, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly among individuals of Maltese descent or those with ties to the island's rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Abela by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abela was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Abela
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Abela: questions and answers
How popular is the name Abela in the UK right now?
In 2011, Abela was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Abela most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 3 babies registered as Abela in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Abela?
A feminine given name of Russian origin meaning "tender, gentle".
How many people are called Abela in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Abela across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.