Abner Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Abner is a Hebrew name meaning 'father of light', originating from the biblical figure known for his role as a military leader. The name has evolved through various forms and represents traits of leadership and wisdom. It has biblical significance but is not widely used today, though it retains a sense of strength and historical richness.
The name Abner is most popular in Texas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Abner has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Abner' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 665th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1042nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1454th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1628th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1441st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1222nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1011th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Abner' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Abner"
Pronunciation
/ˈæbnər/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Abner comes from the Hebrew name 'Avner', which means 'father of light' or 'father of the dawn'. It is composed of the elements 'av' (father) and 'ner' (light or lamp).
Meaning
father of light
Language Evolution
Avner (Hebrew), Abiner (Latinized form), Abner (English)
Biblical Background
Abner is a biblical figure, known as the cousin of Saul and the commander of his army in the Old Testament.
Historical Usage
The name Abner gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Protestant Reformation, as biblical names became more favored.
Variants & Derivatives
Avner, Abin, Benny
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Abner is viewed as an old-fashioned yet strong name, often associated with wisdom and leadership due to its biblical roots.
Famous People
Abner Doubleday, Abner Baker, Abner Haynes
Explore More Abner Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Abner"
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 "Abner"
"Abner" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 665th of 7545 | 1,453 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1042nd of 6773 | 733 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1454th of 7552 | 547 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1628th of 10718 | 470 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1441st of 16616 | 909 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1222nd of 24088 | 2,059 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1011th of 23106 | 2,515 |
Regional Popularity of "Abner" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
70.55% 999th/1416 |
40.97% 565th/1379 |
26.63% 630th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
64.20% 999th/1556 |
48.02% 1130th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
47.98% 1166th/2430 |
54.43% 1553rd/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
58.63% 1722nd/2937 |
29.00% 1010th/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
43.60% 1763rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
61.30% 2259th/3685 |
20.45% 915th/4475 |
27.24% 1415th/5194 |
17.60% 1112th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
43.74% 2004th/4582 |
20.12% 1039th/5164 |
16.20% 1185th/7313 |
13.02% 972nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
38.23% 1523rd/3984 |
18.56% 833rd/4487 |
14.25% 972nd/6822 |
15.11% 948th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Abner" by Generation for Female 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Abner"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Abner" 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.