Abigail
Abigail is a girls' name of Hebrew origin meaning “my father is joyful.” It ranked #41 in the United States in 2025. In the Hebrew Bible, Abigail was the wise and beautiful wife of Nabal who later married King David.
Torn between Abigail and another name? Ask family and friends to vote
how do you pronounce Abigail?
AB-ih-gayl
where does the name Abigail come from?
From the Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (Avigayil), joining av, meaning father, with gil, meaning joy or rejoicing. It reads as my father is joy, or my father rejoices — a construction typical of Hebrew names that make a statement about the family rather than the child.
The name has been a staple of English-speaking countries since the Puritan era.
how popular is this name?
Abigail has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 102 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 44. It peaked at #4 in 2005, and ranked #41 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #41 |
| 2024 | #32 |
| 2023 | #31 |
| 2022 | #24 |
| 2021 | #17 |
| 2020 | #12 |
| 2019 | #11 |
| 2018 | #11 |
| 2017 | #10 |
| 2016 | #8 |
| 2010 | #7 |
| 2005 | #4 |
| 2000 | #14 |
| 1990 | #90 |
| 1980 | #176 |
| 1970 | #526 |
| 1960 | #673 |
| 1950 | #824 |
| 1890 | #940 |
| 1880 | #492 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Abigail fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Abigail
In the first book of Samuel, Abigail intervenes to prevent David from taking revenge on her husband Nabal, and later marries David herself. English Puritans took up the name in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. A servant character called Abigail in Beaumont and Fletcher's 1616 play The Scornful Lady was so familiar that abigail became an ordinary English noun for a lady's maid.
who are famous people named Abigail?
- Abigail Adams (First Lady of the United States)
- Abigail Breslin (actress)
- Abigail Spencer (actress)
what are the nicknames and variants of Abigail?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Abigail?
what names go well with Abigail?
Sibling names that share Abigail's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Abigail
What does the name Abigail mean?
Abigail means “my father is joyful”.
What is the origin of the name Abigail?
Abigail comes from the Hebrew naming tradition. Related forms include Avigail, Abigaíl and Abigael.
How popular is the name Abigail?
Abigail ranked #41 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2005, at #4, and it has spent 102 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Abigail a boy or girl name?
Abigail is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Abigail?
Abigail is pronounced AB-ih-gayl, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
love Abigail? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
Start your free session