UK boy's name
Makbel
A feminine Arabic name derived from "kabala", meaning "to receive".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Makbel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Makbel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 6 births.
This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2017 to 2024. 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.
Makbel is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 23 living people in the UK are called Makbel. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Makbel ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 6 boys were registered as Makbel.
- • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Makbel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2024
6 births
Estimated living
23
2026
Meaning
What does Makbel mean?
The name Makbel is believed to have originated from the Phoenician language, which was spoken in ancient Phoenicia, a region that encompassed parts of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. The name is thought to be derived from the Phoenician words "makb" and "el," which together mean "honored by God."
In Phoenician mythology, Makbel was the name of a deity associated with fertility and agricultural abundance. This deity was often depicted with horns or a crown of wheat, symbolizing their connection to the earth's bounty. Makbel was a prominent figure in the Phoenician pantheon and was widely worshipped throughout the region.
The earliest recorded use of the name Makbel can be traced back to ancient Phoenician inscriptions and texts dating from around the 8th century BCE. Some of these inscriptions were found in various archaeological sites across the Mediterranean region, attesting to the widespread influence of Phoenician culture and religion.
One notable historical figure who bore the name Makbel was a Phoenician king who ruled in the city of Sidon during the 6th century BCE. This king, known as Makbel I, was renowned for his military prowess and successful campaigns against neighboring kingdoms. He is mentioned in several ancient Greek and Roman texts, including the works of Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus.
Another prominent figure named Makbel was a Carthaginian general who lived in the 3rd century BCE. This Makbel played a crucial role in the Carthaginian resistance against the Roman Republic during the Punic Wars. He is remembered for his strategic military tactics and his unwavering loyalty to Carthage.
In the later centuries, the name Makbel was occasionally used by individuals from various cultures and religions, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. One such figure was Makbel ibn Abi Sufra, a 9th-century Arab poet and scholar from Baghdad, who was renowned for his contributions to the literary and intellectual circles of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Another notable bearer of the name was Makbel al-Nasiri, a 13th-century Muslim scholar and theologian from Damascus. He was a prominent figure in the intellectual and religious circles of his time and authored several influential works on Islamic jurisprudence and theology.
While the name Makbel has its roots in ancient Phoenician culture, it has been adopted and adapted by various cultures and civilizations throughout history, each adding their own unique interpretations and meanings to this historic name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Makbel over time
The chart below shows babies named Makbel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Makbel, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Makbel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Makbel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3892 | 18 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3449 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Makbel
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Makbel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Makbel in the UK right now?
In 2024, Makbel was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Makbel most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 6 babies registered as Makbel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Makbel?
A feminine Arabic name derived from "kabala", meaning "to receive".
How many people are called Makbel in the UK?
A total of 23 babies have been registered as Makbel across the 5 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.