UK girl's name
Sibella
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "beautiful" or "sibyl".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sibella is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sibella popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 5 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2006 to 2015. 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.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Sibella. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sibella ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 girls were registered as Sibella.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sibella as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
5 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Meaning
What does Sibella mean?
The name Sibella has its origins in the Latin language and is derived from the word "sibilla," which means "prophetess." This name was frequently associated with the legendary Sibyls, female oracles from ancient Greek and Roman mythology known for their prophetic abilities.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Sibella can be traced back to medieval Europe, particularly in Italy and France, where it gained popularity among the aristocracy and upper classes. Some scholars suggest that the name was introduced to Western Europe during the Crusades, when stories and legends about the Sibyls were brought back from the Middle East.
One of the earliest known historical figures bearing the name Sibella was Sibilla of Burgundy (c. 1090-1150), the daughter of William I, Count of Burgundy, and wife of Roger II, King of Sicily. She was a prominent figure in the Norman court and played a significant role in the political and cultural life of medieval Sicily.
Another notable Sibella was Sibilla of Jerusalem (c. 1160-1190), the daughter of Amalric I, King of Jerusalem, and Maria Comnena. She was a claimant to the throne of Jerusalem and was briefly Queen of Jerusalem in 1186 before her untimely death.
In the realm of literature, one of the most famous bearers of the name was Sibella Novello (c. 1451-1492), an Italian poet and scholar renowned for her contributions to the Renaissance humanist movement. Her works, including poems and translations of classical texts, were widely celebrated during her lifetime.
During the Renaissance period, the name Sibella gained further popularity, with several notable figures bearing the name. One such example was Sibilla Gonzaga (1542-1618), an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts, known for her patronage of the renowned artist Titian.
In the 17th century, Sibella Ayrault (1664-1733) was a French writer and feminist who advocated for women's education and rights. Her works, such as "The Testimony of Truth" and "The Equality of the Sexes," were influential in shaping the early feminist discourse in France.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals named Sibella throughout history, showcasing the rich cultural and historical significance of this name, which has been associated with prophetic wisdom, literary accomplishments, and nobility across various eras and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sibella over time
The chart below shows babies named Sibella registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sibella, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sibella by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sibella 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 | #4890 | 8 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3548 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Sibella
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Sibella: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sibella in the UK right now?
In 2015, Sibella was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sibella most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Sibella in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sibella?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "beautiful" or "sibyl".
How many people are called Sibella in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Sibella across the 3 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.