Abel

♀ Girl

Pronounced AY-bul /ˈeɪ.bəl/High

Meaning: From the Hebrew Hevel, 'breath; vapor; fleeting' — the biblical Abel, second son of Adam and Eve. Used here for a girl though it is much more often a boy's name.Medium

In 30 seconds: A biblical Hebrew name: Abel means 'breath; vapor' (said 'AY-bul'). More often a boy's name — we note the lean.

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Origin MediumHebrew

MeaningFrom the Hebrew Hevel, 'breath; vapor; fleeting' — the biblical Abel, second son of Adam and Eve. Used here for a girl though it is much more often a boy's name.

U.S. rank (2025)#14959 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 161

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Abel comes from the Hebrew Hevel, 'breath; vapor; fleeting,' the biblical son of Adam and Eve. As a girl's name it is rare; it is much more often a boy's name, which we note (said 'AY-bul').

For girls it appears very rarely in the U.S., against far heavier boys' use. Rare, biblical, and soft-sounding.

Did you know? Abel is Hebrew for 'breath; a fleeting vapor' — the biblical second son of Adam and Eve. It's used here for a girl, though it leans strongly to boys, which we note (said 'AY-bul').

Overall data confidence 52%

References — Abel — Hebrew 'breath; vapor'; biblical; boy-leaning

Variations

AbelleAbellaAvel

Nicknames

AbbyBelle

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Abel…

Abella— a like feminine Abel-adjacent name

Mabel— a near-rhyme cousin in sound

Adah— a like short biblical name

Eden— a like biblical pick

Explore names like Abel

By themehebrew biblical cross-sex unisex-lean-boy

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Abel mean?

Abel is Hebrew for 'breath; vapor; fleeting' — the biblical second son of Adam and Eve.

How do you pronounce Abel?

It's said AY-bul /ˈeɪ.bəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Abel a boy or girl name?

Abel is used for both, but far more often for boys — we note the lean.

How popular is Abel?

Abel is rare for girls in the U.S. and more common for boys.