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Annabel (F)>

Annabel (female)

Synonym(s):Neps (F)
Variants:Annabella (F) Annabelle (F) Barabal (F)
Pet Name(s):Bel (F) Bell (F) Bella (F) Belle (F) Neps (F)
Derivative of:Amabel (F) Anable (F)
Lesser Synonym(s):Nápla (F)
Can be spelt:Anabel (F) Anabill (F) Anabul (F) Anaple (F) Annabelle (F) Annable (F)
   
Source(s): The Oxford Names Companion, OUP
"Scottish Forenames" - Donald Whyte, FGH, FSG
Private communication [MT]
Notes:

English. Possibly from Latin "lovable" [see Amanda] but ONC suggests it is a dissimilated form of Amabel.

Used in Scotland for at least eight centuries, it is occasionally an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Barabal [= Barbara].

A correspondent [MT] has pointed out that, in the county of Argyll, Scotland, Annabel/Annabella may be used interchangeably with Neps. We have not been able to find any authority on this and consider the latter is probably a pet name. However there are six records of a baptism for Neps, all in Argyll, so it is at least a valid given name and may be a synonym for Annabel/Annabella.