Girl · #14,119 in 2026

Kabela

Birni Kafela, also called Kabela and Jadid, was the capital of the Kanem–Bornu Empire from 1813 to 1846. Kafela was founded by Muhammad IX Ngileruma as the new imperial capital after the former capital, Ngazargamu, was destroyed in the Fula jihads.

Current Rank
#14,119
Peak Rank
#14,119 (2017)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2017
First Year
2017
Last Year
2017
Peak Year
#14119
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kabela

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Birni Kafela, also called Kabela and Jadid, was the capital of the Kanem–Bornu Empire from 1813 to 1846. Kafela was founded by Muhammad IX Ngileruma as the new imperial capital after the former capital, Ngazargamu, was destroyed in the Fula jihads.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
The former capital of the Kanem–Bornu Empire, Ngazargamu , was destroyed in 1808 by the Fulani . Although the ruins were briefly reoccupied by mai Dunama IX Lefiami , they were soon left abandoned due to repeated Fulani attacks directed in the area. Dunama fled east but failed to decide upon a new permanent capital, instead moving his court every few months. The failure to select a new permanent seat was among several factors that contributed to a group of leading courtiers deposing Dunama in 1811, replacing him as mai with his uncle Muhammad IX Ngileruma . The mai s were swiftly falling under

The Story of Kabela

Kabela first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2017, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 6 Kabelas were born — ranking #14,119 that year. As of 2026, Kabela ranks #14,119 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Kabelas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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SD
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NJ
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MD
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Kabela

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kabela is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Cabbala
  • Cabbalah
  • Kabila
  • Capilla
  • Kapila
  • Capella
  • Cappella
  • Kabbalah
  • Kabala
  • Cabello
  • Cabala
  • Kaballah

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kabela

What does the name Kabela mean?
Birni Kafela, also called Kabela and Jadid, was the capital of the Kanem–Bornu Empire from 1813 to 1846. Kafela was founded by Muhammad IX Ngileruma as the new imperial capital after the former capital, Ngazargamu, was destroyed in the Fula jihads.
How popular is Kabela in 2026?
In 2026, Kabela ranks #14,119 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Kabela most popular?
Kabela reached its peak popularity in 2017, ranking #14,119 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Kabela a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kabela is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Kabela?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kabela include Esper, Addiemae, Onah. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Esper
Peak #14119
👧
Addiemae
Peak #14119
👧
Onah
Peak #14119
👧
Leeila
Peak #14119
👧
Evelee
Peak #14119
👧
Shrishti
Peak #14119
👧
Lucija
Peak #14119
👧
Asaiya
Peak #14119

About the name Kabela

Kabela is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2017 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Kabela's peak popularity came in 2017 when it ranked #14,119. Use the chart and map above to compare Kabela's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.