How popular is the name Hannibal?

In 2018, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Hannibal, ranking 4,749th. Its peak was 2001, with 3 births.

Is Hannibal a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 784 US babies named Hannibal since 1880 were boys.

When was Hannibal most popular?

2015 in the United States, when 19 babies were named Hannibal, its highest rank at 4,944th.

How do you pronounce Hannibal?

Hannibal is /ˈhænɪbəl/, 3 syllables.

Is Hannibal also a surname?

Yes. Hannibal is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.

The first name Hannibal

A boy’s name meaning “may the lord (baal) grace me”.

Pronounced /ˈhænɪbəl/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname

Meaning and origin

Hannibal means “may the lord (baal) grace me”.

From Latin Hannibal, a rendering of Punic 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋 (ḥnbʿl /⁠ḥannībaʿl⁠/, “May the Lord (Baal) grace me”).

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

Hannibal last appeared in the official list in 2018, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2001, with 3 births (#3,134).

babies named Hannibal, 1996–2025

#4,749

rank in 2018

2001

peak year

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Hannibal with other names.

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Hannibal at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 6 boys born in the United States were named Hannibal, the 11,151st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2015, when 19 were.

784

babies named Hannibal since 1880

#11,151

rank in 2025

2015

peak year

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Hannibal in other languages

Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

حَنَّبَعْل

ḥannabaʕl

Arabic

Հաննիբալ

Armenian

Ханиба́л

Hanibál

Bulgarian

Hanníbal

Catalan

汉尼拔

Chinese

Hanibalo

Esperanto

Annibal

French, also Hannibal

Αννίβας

Annívas

Greek

Annibale

Italian

Aníbal

Portuguese

Ганниба́л

Gannibál

Russian, also Аннибал

Aníbal

Spanish

Spelled Hannibal in Dutch, German, Icelandic and Latin too.

Famous people named Hannibal

13 on Wikidata, most written-about first

Hannibal
Carthaginian general (247–183/181 BC)
Hannibal Buress
American comedian and writer, born 1983
Hannibal Gisko
Carthaginian military commander in 1st Punic War, -299–-257
Hannibal Sehested
Danish council president (1842-1924)
Hannibal Goodwin
American inventor in film development, 1822–1900
Hannibal Mago
Carthaginian shofet and general (died 406 BC)
Hannibal Sehested
Danish diplomat (1609-1666)
Wolfgang Hannibal von Schrattenbach
Austrian priest, 1660–1738
Hannibal Monomachus
Carthaginian military officer
Vito Acconci
American designer, landscape architect, performance and installation artist (1940-2017)
Hamlin Garland
American novelist, poet, essayist, short story writer (1860–1940)
Hermann Schubert
German mathematician (1848-1911)

Questions

What does the name Hannibal mean?: Hannibal means “may the lord (baal) grace me”.
How popular is the name Hannibal?: In 2018, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Hannibal, ranking 4,749th. Its peak was 2001, with 3 births.
Is Hannibal a boy's or a girl's name?: Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 784 US babies named Hannibal since 1880 were boys.
When was Hannibal most popular?: 2015 in the United States, when 19 babies were named Hannibal, its highest rank at 4,944th.
How do you pronounce Hannibal?: Hannibal is /ˈhænɪbəl/, 3 syllables.
Is Hannibal also a surname?: Yes. Hannibal is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.