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Abigail

♀ Girl

Pronounced AB-ih-gayl /ˈæb.ɪ.ɡeɪl/High

Meaning: Father's joy; my father is joyful; source of joyHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew for 'father's joy,' Abigail was a wise and beautiful biblical figure who averted war through her diplomacy. A Puritan favorite, it has ranked in the U.S. top 10 for decades.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningFather's joy; my father is joyful; source of joy
Peak year2003
Total births (all-time)≈ 356,404

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200318802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Abigail comes from the Hebrew Avigayil (אֲבִיגַיִל), composed of avi (my father) and gail (joy), meaning 'my father is joy' or 'source of joy.' In 1 Samuel, Abigail is praised as a wise and beautiful woman who became one of King David's wives.

Abigail was extremely popular among Puritan settlers in colonial America. Abigail Adams (1744–1818), wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams, gave the name particular distinction. It declined through the mid-20th century but revived dramatically, entering the U.S. top 10 in 2005 and remaining there.

Did you know? In 1 Samuel, Abigail — described as both intelligent and beautiful — prevented the future king David from slaughtering her foolish husband Nabal's household by bringing food and gifts and speaking so wisely that David praised her judgment and later married her.

Variations

AbigaleAbigayleAbbey

Nicknames

AbbyAbbeyGailAbbi

Famous Bearers

  • ★Abigail Adams (1744–1818)
    Second First Lady of the United States, wife of John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams.

If you like Abigail…

Elizabeth— shares the Puritan-era biblical heritage and long U.S. top-10 runs
Eleanor— equally dignified long classic with a warm nickname
Grace— fellow top-10 biblical virtue-adjacent classic
Hannah— shares the Old Testament Hebrew heritage
Charlotte— equally refined multi-syllable classic with broad appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Abigail mean?

Abigail comes from the Hebrew Avigayil, meaning 'my father is joy' or 'source of joy,' borne by a famously wise and beautiful woman in 1 Samuel who became a wife of King David.

How do you pronounce Abigail?

Abigail is said AB-ih-gayl /ˈæb.ɪ.ɡeɪl/ — three syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Abigail a boy or girl name?

Abigail is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Abigail?

Abigail entered the U.S. top 10 girls' names around 2005 and has remained there, driven by its warm biblical heritage and the friendly nickname Abby.