Fable
Fable is a literary genre defined as a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphised, and that illustrates or leads to a particular moral lesson, which may at the end be added explicitly as a concise maxim or saying.
Meaning & Origin of Fable
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Fable is a literary genre defined as a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphised, and that illustrates or leads to a particular moral lesson, which may at the end be added explicitly as a concise maxim or saying.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Fable
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Fable as a girl name dates back to 2008, when 6 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 42 newborns named Fable — #3,626 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 61% of all recorded Fables. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,626 among girl names with 42 births, rising sharply (+132% over the past five years). In total, more than 342 Fables have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Fable first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2012, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2021: 7 births, good for #9,707 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 77% of all recorded Fables. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2023 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 22 Fables have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Fable
Phonetically similar names — useful when Fable is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Faible
- Feeble
- Foible
- Fabel
- Fibel
- Fables
- Fabled
- Fipple
- Fabler
- Fumble
- Affable
- Futbol
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fable
What does the name Fable mean?
How popular is Fable in 2026?
When was Fable most popular?
Is Fable a unisex name?
What names go well with Fable?
About the name Fable
Fable is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2008 and has accumulated 342 births in the dataset. Fable's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #3,626. Use the chart and map above to compare Fable's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "F" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.