Abram

♂ Boy

Pronounced AY-brum /ˈeɪ.brəm/High

Meaning: From the Hebrew Avram (אַבְרָם), meaning 'exalted father' or 'high father' (av = father + ram = exalted, high); the original name of the patriarch later renamed Abraham (father of many nations) by God in Genesis 17:5High

In 30 seconds: Abram is the original, pre-covenant name of the patriarch Abraham — meaning 'exalted father.' Slightly less common than Abraham, it has a clean two-syllable sharpness and carries the same immense biblical weight in a fresher, more modern form.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningFrom the Hebrew Avram (אַבְרָם), meaning 'exalted father' or 'high father' (av = father + ram = exalted, high); the original name of the patriarch later renamed Abraham (father of many nations) by God in Genesis 17:5

U.S. rank (2025)#742 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births350 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2016

Total births (all-time)≈ 20,240

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Abram is the original Hebrew name of the patriarch whose name was changed to Abraham. It means 'exalted father' from Hebrew av (father) and ram (high, exalted). Abram was called from his homeland of Ur in Mesopotamia and is recognized as a patriarch in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Abram has been used in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities for millennia. In the United States it is less common than Abraham, giving it a distinctive quality within the same biblical tradition. It is growing as parents seek slightly more unusual forms of classic biblical names.

Did you know? God renamed Abram to Abraham in Genesis 17:5, from 'exalted father' to 'father of many nations' — one of the most significant name changes in scripture. Using Abram preserves the first, intimate name of the patriarch before the covenant was sealed, giving it a quietly profound dimension.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Abram — etymology and biblical historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AbrahamAvramBram

Nicknames

AbeBramAbby

Famous Bearers

★Abram (later Abraham) (biblical)
Biblical patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; original name before the covenant with God.

If you like Abram…

Abraham— the renamed form of the same patriarch, sharing the father meaning with added breadth

Elijah— shares the powerful Hebrew Old Testament prophet heritage and the same vintage-to-modern arc

Ezra— fellow short, strong Hebrew biblical name in the same contemporary revival wave

Isaiah— shares the multi-syllable Hebrew prophetic tradition and the same grandeur

Frequently Asked

What does the name Abram mean?

Abram means 'exalted father' from Hebrew av (father) + ram (high). It was the original name of the patriarch whose name God changed to Abraham in Genesis.

How do you pronounce Abram?

Abram is pronounced AY-brum /ˈeɪ.brəm/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Abram different from Abraham?

Abram and Abraham are related; Abram is the original name meaning 'exalted father,' while Abraham (father of many nations) is the name given after the covenant with God.

Is Abram a popular name?

Abram is less common than Abraham but has been rising as parents seek distinctive forms of classic biblical names.