Mabli

Welsh, "loveable"

A long-time love of mine, Mabli is all things sweet and sparky. A modern Welsh form of Mabel, it shares the same the cozy, cuddly vibe of the vintage gem, but the zippy -i ending and playful sound makes it lively and fresh.

First used in the 20^th-century, it doesn’t feel too modern or too trendy at all. Instead, it fits in with other Welsh choices like Lowri, Eleri, and Rhodri.

For me, there’s even a subtle Shakespeare connection as Mabli reminds me of Mab, the queen of the fairies mentioned in Romeo and Juliet, whose name was possibly inspired by Medb or Mabel.

While it’s nearly unheard of in the US, Mabli has been in the UK charts since 2019, and a recent year even saw it feature in the Welsh Top 50! In fact, of all the Mablis born in 2024, nearly 80% were born in Wales.

Approachable, fun, and with the same wholesome, loveable meaning of the vintage gem, Mabli is one that radiates joy for me. Plus, I think it would be sweet — albeit a tiny bit matchy — as a sister for Carys, another Welsh name meaning “love”.