Abigail Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Abigail has Hebrew origins meaning 'father's joy.' It evolved through various languages, maintaining its original meaning throughout history. It is a biblical name associated with a wise and resourceful woman, contributing to its positive image and popularity in modern times.
The name Abigail is most popular in New Hampshire, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) 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 gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Abigail has been too rising for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too rising for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, too rising for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too rising for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Abigail' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8050th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3915th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4092nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8539th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1287th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1164th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 752nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 382nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 82nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Abigail' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Abigail"
Pronunciation
/ˈæb.ɪ.ɡeɪl/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Abigail comes from the Hebrew name אֲבִיגַיִל (Avigayil), which means 'my father is joy' or 'father's joy.'
Meaning
father's joy
Language Evolution
Hebrew: אֲבִיגַיִל (Avigayil), Latin: Abigael, Old French: Abigaël, English: Abigail
Biblical Background
Abigail is a prominent figure in the Bible, known as the wife of Nabal and later of King David. Her story is found in the First Book of Samuel.
Historical Usage
The name Abigail gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Puritan period in the 17th century, reflecting a trend of using biblical names.
Variants & Derivatives
Abbie, Gail, Abigale, Abegail
Modern Popularity & Image
Abigail remains a popular name today, often associated with qualities such as intelligence, kindness, and beauty. It is viewed positively in contemporary culture.
Famous People
Abigail Adams, wife of U.S. President John Adams, Abigail Breslin, American actress, Abigail Folger, socialite and victim of the Manson Family murders
Explore More Abigail Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Abigail"
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 "Abigail"
"Abigail" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8050th of 10718 | 17 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3915th of 16616 | 208 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4092nd of 24088 | 347 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 8539th of 23106 | 100 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1287th of 9107 | 641 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1164th of 9204 | 746 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 752nd of 12526 | 3,233 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 382nd of 19264 | 9,469 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 82nd of 27321 | 59,444 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6th of 35406 | 223,584 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 11th of 30306 | 110,843 |
Regional Popularity of "Abigail" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
54.51% 2831st/5194 |
45.80% 2893rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
76.12% 3931st/5164 |
35.74% 2614th/7313 |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Abigail" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
67.37% 929th/1379 |
85.97% 2034th/2366 |
94.57% 1080th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
46.21% 719th/1556 |
86.40% 2033rd/2353 |
61.67% 954th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
43.02% 958th/2227 |
20.91% 508th/2430 |
30.14% 860th/2853 |
28.25% 784th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
11.44% 336th/2937 |
8.33% 290th/3483 |
14.16% 498th/3518 |
11.08% 448th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
1.71% 63rd/3685 |
1.88% 84th/4475 |
1.94% 101st/5194 |
1.95% 123rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
0.13% 6th/4582 |
0.17% 9th/5164 |
0.07% 5th/7313 |
0.15% 11th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
0.35% 14th/3984 |
0.22% 10th/4487 |
0.15% 10th/6822 |
0.21% 13th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Abigail"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Abigail" 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.