Mehitabel

Mehitabel is a feminine given name, a variant of the biblical name Mehetabel. It originates from the Hebrew name Meheṭavʾel, meaning "God makes happy," derived from the roots yaṭav ("to be happy") and ʾel ("God"). In the Old Testament, Mehetabel is briefly mentioned as the wife of Hadad, a king of Edom (Genesis 36:39; 1 Chronicles 1:50).

Historical Usage

During the British colonial period, Mehitabel became a popular name in the New England colonies, where Protestant settlers often chose names from the Old Testament for their children. The name was particularly common in the 17th and 18th centuries, reflecting the religious and cultural influences of the era.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals named Mehitabel include Mehitable Rowley, daughter-in-law to Samuel Fuller, whose father Edward Fuller was a Mayflower Pilgrim and signatory of the Mayflower Compact. Another notable bearer is Mehitable E. Woods (1813–1891), who gained recognition as a heroine during the American Civil War.

In Popular Culture

Mehitabel appears in several works of fiction. Don Marquis's writings feature an alley cat named Mehitabel in the series Archy and Mehitabel. A doll named Mehitabel (nicknamed Hitty) is the protagonist of the Newbery Medal-winning children's novel Hitty, Her First Hundred Years (1930) by Rachel Field. Additionally, the short story "Mehitable Lamb" by Mary Wilkins Freeman and a historical character named Mehitabel Freeman in Mary Higgins Clark's novel Remember further highlight the name's literary presence.

• Meaning: "God makes happy"
• Origin: Hebrew, via the biblical name Mehetabel
• Type: Feminine given name
• Usage: English (especially colonial New England), Biblical
• Variant: Mehetabel