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Home › Baby Names Directory › Able

Able

♂ Boy

Pronounced AY-bəl /ˈeɪ.bəl/High

Meaning: Spelling of Abel — from Hebrew Hevel, 'breath, vapor'; also the word 'able', 'capable, skilled'; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Breath; capable: Able spells Abel — 'breath' — and echoes 'able', 'capable'. Soft, classic, and warm.
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Origin MediumHebrew, English
MeaningSpelling of Abel — from Hebrew Hevel, 'breath, vapor'; also the word 'able', 'capable, skilled'; routes layered
U.S. rank (2024)#5223 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births18 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,096

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201419122024

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

Able is a spelling of Abel — from Hebrew Hevel, 'breath, vapor' (the second son of Adam and Eve, the first shepherd) — that also reads as the English word able, 'capable, competent, skilled' (routes layered, which we note). A soft, classic name; the spelling lends it a virtue-name flavor.

It registers thinly beside Abel. Rare, breath-or-capable at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Abel means 'breath, vapor' in Hebrew (the second son of Adam and Eve) — Able is a spelling that also reads as the word 'able', 'capable, skilled'; a soft, classic name (the routes are layered, which we note).
Overall data confidence 58%
Behind the Name — Abel — routes layered

Variations

AbelAvelAbe

Nicknames

Abe

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Able…

Abel— the standard spelling
Cain— his brother's name
Seth— his brother's name
Enoch— a fellow early-Genesis boys' name

Explore names like Able

By themeuncertainenglishhebrewbiblical
By meaningWind / Air

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Able mean?

Able spells Abel — Hebrew 'breath, vapor' — and echoes the word 'able', 'capable'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Able?

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

Is Able a boy or girl name?

Able is a boy's name.

How popular is Able?

Able is a rare spelling in the U.S.; Abel is more common.

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