Hannibal Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HAN-ih-buhl //ˈhænɪbəl//
Origin: Phoenician; Latin
Meaning: Phoenician: grace of Baal; Latin: one who is gracious
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Hannibal has its roots in the Phoenician language, deriving from the elements 'ḥan', meaning 'grace' or 'favor', and 'ba'al', which translates to 'lord' or 'master'. This etymology reflects the cultural significance of deities in ancient Phoenician society, where names often invoked divine favor.
The name was later adopted into Latin as 'Hannibal', which was used by the Romans to refer to the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca, who lived during the 3rd century BCE and is best known for his audacious military strategies during the Second Punic War against Rome, particularly his crossing of the Alps with war elephants in 218 BCE. Hannibal's historical significance is underscored by his role in one of the most notable conflicts of the ancient world.
His tactical genius and the subsequent battles, such as the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE, have been studied extensively in military history. The name Hannibal thus became synonymous with military prowess and strategic brilliance.
The Romans, who ultimately defeated him, contributed to the name's enduring legacy through their writings and historical accounts, which have preserved his story for centuries. Culturally, the name Hannibal has resonated through various literary and artistic works, often symbolizing strength, cunning, and the complexities of war.
The name has also been associated with various figures in literature and popular culture, notably in the 20th century with the character Hannibal Lecter in Thomas Harris's novels, which further cemented its place in the collective consciousness. The diminutive 'Hanni' has occasionally been used in various contexts, reflecting a more personal or affectionate form of the name.
Overall, Hannibal remains a name steeped in historical and cultural significance, evoking themes of leadership and tactical ingenuity.
Famous people named Hannibal
In this section, you will find notable people named Hannibal. 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 Hannibal who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Hannibal 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.
Hannibal Barca is a military commander best known for his role in the Second Punic War, particularly for crossing the Alps to invade Italy.
Hannibal Lecter is a fictional character best known for his appearances in the novels Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs, and Hannibal.
Fictional characters named Hannibal
The following list of fictional characters named Hannibal is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Hannibal Lecter is a fictional character from the novel and film series The Silence of the Lambs. He is a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer who assists the FBI in catching other criminals.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Hannibal, 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 Hannibal. 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 Hannibal was first seen in the United States in 1885.
Hannibal has ranked as high as #10843 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in New York, and California.
In the past 5 years the name Hannibal has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Hannibal 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 Hannibal 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 Hannibal.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 6 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 |
| 2023 | 11 | 11 |
| 2021 | 18 | 18 |
| 2020 | 14 | 14 |
| 2019 | 13 | 13 |
| 2018 | 16 | 16 |
| 2017 | 12 | 12 |
| 2016 | 17 | 17 |
| 2015 | 19 | 19 |
| 2014 | 17 | 17 |
| 2013 | 8 | 8 |
| 2012 | 13 | 13 |
| 2011 | 15 | 15 |
| 2010 | 7 | 7 |
| 2009 | 7 | 7 |
| 2008 | 7 | 7 |
| 2007 | 14 | 14 |
| 2006 | 6 | 6 |
| 2005 | 7 | 7 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 |
| 2001 | 7 | 7 |
| 2000 | 8 | 8 |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 |
| 1998 | 7 | 7 |
| 1997 | 9 | 9 |
| 1996 | 10 | 10 |
| 1995 | 9 | 9 |
| 1994 | 12 | 12 |
| 1993 | 10 | 10 |
| 1991 | 10 | 10 |
| 1990 | 11 | 11 |
| 1989 | 13 | 13 |
| 1988 | 11 | 11 |
| 1987 | 13 | 13 |
| 1986 | 8 | 8 |
| 1985 | 14 | 14 |
| 1984 | 14 | 14 |
| 1983 | 15 | 15 |
| 1982 | 14 | 14 |
| 1981 | 9 | 9 |
| 1980 | 17 | 17 |
| 1979 | 10 | 10 |
| 1978 | 6 | 6 |
| 1977 | 15 | 15 |
| 1976 | 7 | 7 |
| 1975 | 6 | 6 |
| 1974 | 8 | 8 |
| 1973 | 11 | 11 |
| 1972 | 11 | 11 |
| 1971 | 9 | 9 |
| 1970 | 5 | 5 |
| 1969 | 6 | 6 |
| 1968 | 6 | 6 |
| 1967 | 5 | 5 |
| 1966 | 8 | 8 |
| 1963 | 6 | 6 |
| 1962 | 6 | 6 |
| 1960 | 7 | 7 |
| 1959 | 9 | 9 |
| 1952 | 6 | 6 |
| 1947 | 6 | 6 |
| 1940 | 7 | 7 |
| 1938 | 8 | 8 |
| 1937 | 6 | 6 |
| 1935 | 7 | 7 |
| 1933 | 5 | 5 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 |
| 1929 | 8 | 8 |
| 1927 | 7 | 7 |
| 1926 | 6 | 6 |
| 1925 | 11 | 11 |
| 1924 | 11 | 11 |
| 1923 | 5 | 5 |
| 1922 | 6 | 6 |
| 1921 | 14 | 14 |
| 1918 | 8 | 8 |
| 1917 | 6 | 6 |
| 1915 | 9 | 9 |
| 1914 | 8 | 8 |
| 1913 | 9 | 9 |
| 1909 | 5 | 5 |
| 1899 | 5 | 5 |
| 1885 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Hannibal (1990)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |