The story behind Fabian
From Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”), derived from Fabius + -ānus.
Other language forms and explanations (3)
German entry
Borrowed from Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”).
Polish entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Fabiānus.
Tagalog entry
a male given name from Spanish, equivalent to English Fabian
Pronunciation
Canada, General-American: /ˈfeɪ.bi.ən/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈfeɪ.biː.ən/
- Australia, New-Zealand: /ˈfæɪ.biː.ən/
- Scotland: /ˈfe.bi.ən/
- German: /ˈfaː.bi.an/
- Polish: /ˈfa.bjan/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /fabˈjan/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [fɐbˈjan̪]
- Tagalog: /pabˈjan/
- Tagalog: [pɐbˈjan̪]
Popularity
Fabian ranked #468 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Fabian
Fermín
Fermín and Fermina are derived from the Late Latin proper names Firminus/Firmina, from Latin Firmus/Firma.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Firmin
From Latin Firminus, name of early Christian saints, derivative of firmus (“firm”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Florian
Borrowed from Latin Flōriānus, derivative of Flōrus; name of a 4th century saint, patron of Austria. Learned borrowing from Latin Flōriānus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Froilan
Borrowed from Spanish Froilán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Fabian
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Absalom
From Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם (avshalóm, literally “father of peace”), from אָב (av, “father”) + שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”). Learned borrowing from Latin Absālōm, from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abundio
Borrowed from Latin Abundius. Borrowed from Spanish Abundio.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Fabian
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abílio
Perhaps from Latin abilius (“not vindictive”). Possibly related to Abelardo.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length