Aníbal

Hannibal might be ever be connected to the fictional cannibal, Hannibal Lecter, to English ears, but this Spanish and Portuguese form provides a degree of remove from the association. Familiar (but not overly popular) in Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, and Spain, it also appeared briefly in the US Top 1000 back in the 60s and 70s, spelled without the accent, possibly thanks to the wrester known mononymously as Aníbal

The name ultimately derives from Phoenician, blending the hann element, meaning "grace", with the deity title, Ba'al, making it a name that celebrates a number of storm and fertility gods from Semitic mythology.

Notable bearers include former president of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, footballer Aníbal Capela, footballer Aníbal Moreno, and sociologist Aníbal Quijano.

Around 35 boys were called Aníbal (or Anibal) in the US in a recent year.

Pronounced ah-NEE-bahl.