Abby Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Abby is a diminutive of the Hebrew name Abigail, meaning 'father's joy.' It evolved from Abigail and has gained popularity as an independent name. The name is often associated with traits of friendliness and warmth. It has biblical relevance through the figure of Abigail in the Bible.
The name Abby is most popular in South Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Abby has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Abby' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6687th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6773rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5200th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8406th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7696th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11921st out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2145th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1546th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 853rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 575th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 228th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 204th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 489th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Abby' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Abby"
Pronunciation
/ˈæbi/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Abby is a diminutive form of Abigail, which means 'my father is joy' in Hebrew.
Meaning
Father's joy
Language Evolution
Abigail, Abby
Biblical Background
Abby is derived from Abigail, a prominent figure in the Bible, known for her wisdom and beauty as the wife of King David.
Historical Usage
The name Abby gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th century as a standalone name rather than just a nickname.
Variants & Derivatives
Abigail, Abi, Gail
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Abby is perceived as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and kindness.
Famous People
Abby Wambach, Abby Lee Miller, Abby Cadabby
Explore More Abby Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Abby"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Abby"
"Abby" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6687th of 7545 | 10 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6773rd of 6773 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 5200th of 7552 | 29 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8406th of 10718 | 15 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 7696th of 16616 | 64 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 11921st of 24088 | 58 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2145th of 9107 | 289 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1546th of 9204 | 473 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 853rd of 12526 | 2,589 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 575th of 19264 | 4,920 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 228th of 27321 | 19,851 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 204th of 35406 | 25,452 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 489th of 30306 | 7,770 |
Regional Popularity of "Abby" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
63.12% 4616th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Abby" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
67.37% 929th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
42.74% 665th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
37.63% 838th/2227 |
22.59% 549th/2430 |
37.01% 1056th/2853 |
40.72% 1130th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
14.50% 426th/2937 |
15.82% 551st/3483 |
19.53% 687th/3518 |
19.91% 805th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
3.31% 122nd/3685 |
6.66% 298th/4475 |
4.64% 241st/5194 |
7.50% 474th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
3.56% 163rd/4582 |
5.54% 286th/5164 |
2.42% 177th/7313 |
4.10% 306th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
14.78% 589th/3984 |
10.01% 449th/4487 |
6.98% 476th/6822 |
7.28% 457th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Abby"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Abby" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.