Anibal Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AH-nee-bahl /ˈæn.ɪ.bəl/
Origin: Spanish; Portuguese
Meaning: Spanish: 'grace of God'; Portuguese: 'graceful'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Anibal is derived from the Punic name "ʿAnābāl," which is composed of two elements: "ʿan" meaning "grace" or "favor" and "bāl" meaning "lord" or "master." This etymology reflects the Semitic roots of the name, originating from the ancient Phoenician civilization, which spoke a dialect of the Northwest Semitic languages. The name transitioned into Latin as "Hannibal," particularly through the historical figure Hannibal Barca, the Carthaginian general known for his military tactics during the Second Punic War against Rome in the 3rd century BCE.
The Latin form "Hannibalus" eventually influenced the adaptation of the name into various languages, including Spanish and Italian, where it appears as Aníbal and Annibale, respectively. Historically, Anibal is most notably associated with Hannibal Barca, whose strategies and leadership left a significant mark on military history.
His crossing of the Alps with war elephants in 218 BCE is a celebrated event that has been referenced in various historical texts and analyses throughout the centuries. The name has also been borne by several saints and notable figures in medieval and Renaissance Europe, further embedding it in cultural consciousness.
The use of the name in Christian contexts can be traced back to the spread of Christianity, where it was adopted in various forms across different regions. Culturally, Anibal carries connotations of strength, leadership, and tactical brilliance, largely due to its association with Hannibal Barca.
The name has been embraced in various literary and artistic works, symbolizing resilience and strategic prowess. In some cultures, the name is celebrated through diminutive forms, such as "Nino," which reflect affection and familiarity.
Overall, Anibal's historical significance and cultural resonance have contributed to its enduring presence in various societies.
Famous people named Anibal
In this section, you will find notable people named Anibal. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Anibal who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Anibal who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Anibal Troilo was a bandoneón player and composer best known for his contributions to tango music and his work with the Orquesta Típica.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Anibal, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Anibal. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Anibal was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Anibal has ranked as high as #2674 nationally, which occurred in 1990, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Anibal has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Anibal is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Anibal was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Anibal.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 38 | 38 | 0 |
| 2024 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 2023 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 2022 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 2021 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 2020 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 2019 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
| 2018 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 2017 | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| 2016 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 2015 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 2014 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 2013 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
| 2012 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 2011 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 2010 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 2009 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| 2008 | 47 | 47 | 0 |
| 2007 | 47 | 47 | 0 |
| 2006 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 2005 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 2004 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 2003 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 2002 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 2001 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 2000 | 48 | 48 | 0 |
| 1999 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 1998 | 47 | 47 | 0 |
| 1997 | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| 1996 | 75 | 75 | 0 |
| 1995 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| 1994 | 65 | 60 | 5 |
| 1993 | 80 | 75 | 5 |
| 1992 | 82 | 75 | 7 |
| 1991 | 74 | 74 | 0 |
| 1990 | 92 | 92 | 0 |
| 1989 | 72 | 72 | 0 |
| 1988 | 79 | 79 | 0 |
| 1987 | 61 | 61 | 0 |
| 1986 | 69 | 69 | 0 |
| 1985 | 66 | 66 | 0 |
| 1984 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
| 1983 | 77 | 77 | 0 |
| 1982 | 58 | 58 | 0 |
| 1981 | 61 | 61 | 0 |
| 1980 | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| 1979 | 47 | 47 | 0 |
| 1978 | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 1977 | 65 | 60 | 5 |
| 1976 | 83 | 83 | 0 |
| 1975 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| 1974 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| 1973 | 56 | 56 | 0 |
| 1972 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| 1971 | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| 1970 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| 1969 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| 1968 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
| 1967 | 53 | 53 | 0 |
| 1966 | 54 | 54 | 0 |
| 1965 | 52 | 52 | 0 |
| 1964 | 52 | 52 | 0 |
| 1963 | 51 | 51 | 0 |
| 1962 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
| 1961 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| 1960 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| 1959 | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 1958 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 1957 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 1956 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
| 1955 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1954 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1953 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1952 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1951 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1950 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1949 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1948 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1947 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1946 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1943 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1942 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1940 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1937 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1936 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1931 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1930 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1929 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1928 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1927 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1926 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1925 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1923 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1922 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1921 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1920 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1919 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1918 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1917 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1915 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1914 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Anibal (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 7 |