Given name & surname
Hannibal
“having the grace of Baal”
Hannibal is used as a given name and a surname. One Hebrew interpretation is “having the grace of Baal.”
Original Hebrewחניבעל
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hebrew interpretation is “having the grace of Baal.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
In English use, Hannibal is used as a form of Annibale.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1885. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Hannibal appears in Revelation 20:8-9.
From biblical name research
Hannibal through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 784
- 784 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2015
- 19 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #11,151 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −39%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 11,151 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for boys was 19 in 2015. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 610 as a first name in 2020; 1,336 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Hannibal’s family of names
In Icelandic usage, Hannibal developed from the Punic form 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋. In German usage, Hannibal has a conventional equivalent in the Turkish form ANIBAL. In German usage, Hannibal has a conventional equivalent in the Bosnian form Hanibal.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Hannibal has relatives in 13 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
Hebrewwhere Hannibal comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 11
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- חניבעלHebrew
- AnibalTurkish
- Annibalesee also · Italian
- Anníbalequivalent
- Ганнибалborrowing · Russian
- ΑννίβαςGreek
- 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋root · xpu
- ἈννίβαςGreek
Show 3 moreShow fewer
See also 32
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
- Johnshares a root
- Hannahshares a root
- Annashares a root
- Joannashares a root
- Hananshares a root
- Ananiasshares a root
- Beulahshares a root
- Hananiahshares a root
Show 24 moreShow fewer
- Hannielshares a root
- Hananishares a root
- Jonanshares a root
- Johananshares a root
- Elhananshares a root
- Annasshares a root
- Tahanshares a root
- Jannaishares a root
- Hananelshares a root
- Bildadshares a root
- Belshares a root
- Beelzebubshares a root
- Baalishares a root
- Baal-zebubshares a root
- Baal-peorshares a root
- Baalshares a root
- Baal-hananshares a root
- Baal-berithshares a root
- Tehinnahshares a root
- Joananshares a root
- Jehohananshares a root
- Jannesshares a root
- Henshares a root
- Hanunshares a root
People named Hannibal
- HannibalCarthaginian general (247–183/181 BC)246 BC–182 BC
- Hannibal HamlinVice President of the United States from 1861 to 1865 (1809–1891)
- Hannibal MejbriTunisian-French footballer (born 2003)
- Hannibal BuressAmerican comedian and writerborn 1983
- Hannibal GiscoCarthaginian military commander in 1st Punic War299 BC–257 BC
- Hannibal Gaddafison of Muammar Gaddafiborn 1975
- Hamlin GarlandAmerican novelist, poet, essayist, short story writer (1860–1940)
- Hannibal SehestedDanish council president (1842-1924)
- Hannibal GoodwinAmerican inventor in film development1822–1900
Characters named Hannibal: Hannibal Lecter (fictional character created by Thomas Harris), Hannibal King (Marvel Comics Character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Hannibal, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Increase
Increase is a masculine given name from Hebrew.
>99% boys
Racham
“one who shows mercy”
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ܣܒܪܝܫܘܥ
“my hope” · “Jesus”
>99% boys
Nay
“his grace”
>99% boys
Esmond
“one who is protected by God's grace”
>99% boys
Vonn
“filled with hope”
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Jeron
“filled with hope”
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Hannabell
“favored with grace and beauty”
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