Vabalai was formerly part of the German Empire. In the German Empire, the place was called Wabbeln.
The place is now called Vabalai and belongs to Lithuania.
| Historical place name | Country | Administration | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wabbeln | German Empire | Heydekrug | before the Versailles Treaty |
| Vabalai | Lithuania | Šilutė | after the Versailles Treaty |
| Wabbeln | German Empire | Heydekrug | 1939 |
| Vabalai | Soviet Union | Šilutė/Šilute | 1945 |
| Vabalaj | Soviet Union | Šilutė/Šilute | 1945 |
| Vabalai | Lithuania | Šilutė | 1992 |