Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2015

Hannibal

Meaning A male given name from Punic of mostly historical use Gender Boy Rank 2025 #11,151

A male given name from Punic of mostly historical use.

Rank 2025
#11,151
among boys · ↓2,576 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
6
named Hannibal
How common
1 in 284,679
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2015
19 babies
All-time total
784
#5,975 all-time among boys
First recorded
1885
in Social Security records

Hannibal popularity over time

784 babies have been named Hannibal since 1885, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.030.040.0518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1899Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 5 1 – #1,004
1890s 5 1 0% #1,111
1900s 5 1 0% #1,557
1910s 40 4 +700% #2,000
1920s 68 7 +70% #2,302
1930s 31 3 -54% #2,742
1940s 13 1 -58% #2,978
1950s 15 2 +15% #2,915
1960s 44 4 +193% #3,085
1970s 88 9 +100% #2,828
1980s 128 13 +45% #2,770
1990s 84 8 -34% #4,798
2000s 63 6 -25% #6,025
2010s 137 14 +117% #4,944
2020s (to 2025) 58 10 -29% #5,198

The story of Hannibal

Hannibal is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #11,151 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1885, 784 American babies have been named Hannibal. Its peak came in 2015, when 19 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Hannibal stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Hannibal?

The median living Hannibal is about 31 years old; half are between 11 and 45. An estimated 600 people named Hannibal are alive in the United States today.

median 31 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Hannibal year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 6 #11,151
2024 9 #8,575
2023 11 #7,446
2022 – –
2021 18 #5,198
2020 14 #6,086
2019 13 #6,546
2018 16 #5,625
2017 12 #6,840
2016 17 #5,396
2015 19 #4,944
2014 17 #5,337
2013 8 #9,088
2012 13 #6,438
2011 15 #5,772
2010 7 #10,040
2009 7 #10,232
2008 7 #10,259
2007 14 #6,025
2006 6 #11,136
2005 7 #9,475
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 7 #8,788
2001 7 #8,626
2000 8 #7,716
1995 9 #6,097
1990 11 #4,798
1985 14 #3,278
1980 17 #2,770
1975 6 #5,039
1970 5 #5,007
1965 – –
1960 7 #3,473
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 7 #2,978
1935 7 #3,089
1930 – –
1925 11 #2,658
1920 – –
1915 9 #2,710
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 5 #1,004
1880 – –

Famous people named Hannibal

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Hannibal Hannibal Carthaginian general and statesman (247–183/181 BC) -183–-183 · Antiquity
  2. 2 Hannibal Buress Hannibal Buress American comedian (born 1983) Contemporary
  3. 3 Hannibal Hamlin Hannibal Hamlin Vice President of the United States from 1861 to 1865 1809–1891 · 19th century
  4. 4 Hannibal Muammar Gaddafi Son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (born 1976) b. 1975 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Hannibal Gisco Carthaginian commander during the First Punic War -300–-260 · Antiquity
  6. 6 Hannibal Sehested Hannibal Sehested Danish landowner and Council President (1842-1924) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Hannibal, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Hannibal?

The median living Hannibal is about 31 years old. Half of all living Hannibals are between 11 and 45 years old.

How many people named Hannibal are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Hannibal are alive in the United States, based on 784 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Hannibal mean?

A male given name from Punic of mostly historical use.

How popular is the name Hannibal in 2025?

Hannibal ranked #11,151 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Hannibal?

784 babies have been named Hannibal in the United States since 1885, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Hannibal most popular?

Hannibal peaked in 2015, when 19 newborns received the name.

Is Hannibal a boy or girl name?

Hannibal is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Hannibal rising or falling?

Hannibal is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Hannibal?

Well-known people named Hannibal include Hannibal (politician), Hannibal Buress (actor), Hannibal Hamlin (politician).

Names like Hannibal

Names that sound and feel close to Hannibal: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Hannibal with similar names → More names starting with H →