Fun Facts About the Name Abigail
- An established favorite: Abigail held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 37 consecutive years, from 1989 through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Abigail's rank fell 5 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 413 thousand babies named Abigail: U.S. records list 413,848 babies given the name Abigail from 1880 through 2025. Even 672 boys received the name Abigail - about 1 boy for every 615 girls.
What Does the Name Abigail Mean?
Abigail is an English feminine name from Hebrew. It comes from the biblical Hebrew name אֲבִיגַיִל (Avigayil), which is usually explained as 'my father is joy' or 'my father rejoices.' The name is built from the Hebrew elements אָב (av), 'father,' and גִּיל (gil), 'joy' or 'rejoicing.' A more literal reading of the Hebrew form is 'father of joy,' and the common English gloss 'father's joy' reflects the same two elements. These are not separate origins but different ways of rendering the same Hebrew name.
Abigail Name History & Origins
The name appears in the Hebrew Bible for two women. In 1 Samuel 25, Abigail is the wife of Nabal of Carmel; after Nabal's death, she becomes a wife of David. In 2 Samuel 17:25 and 1 Chronicles 2:16 - 17, another Abigail is the mother of Amasa and is linked with David's family. The biblical stories are the main early context for the name.
The Hebrew name was transliterated into Greek as Ἀβιγαία (Abigaia) in the Septuagint and into Latin as Abigail in the Vulgate. English Bibles, including the King James Version, use Abigail, which became the standard English form. In the 17th century, a waiting-woman named Abigail in Beaumont and Fletcher's play The Scornful Lady gave rise to the archaic English common noun abigail, meaning a lady's maid. That theatrical use is separate from the biblical name and from its Hebrew origin.
How Popular is the Name Abigail?
Abigail remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1989 to 2025. Its highest annual birth count was in 2003, and people born that year turn 23 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #41 | 4,941 | 0.3074% |
| 2024 | #32 | 5,499 | 0.3409% |
| 2023 | #31 | 5,682 | 0.3545% |
| 2022 | #24 | 6,300 | 0.3844% |
| 2021 | #17 | 6,985 | 0.4260% |
| 2020 | #12 | 7,910 | 0.4896% |
| 2019 | #11 | 9,189 | 0.5478% |
| 2018 | #11 | 9,877 | 0.5809% |
| 2017 | #10 | 10,645 | 0.6168% |
| 2016 | #8 | 11,794 | 0.6658% |
| 2015 | #7 | 12,420 | 0.6959% |
| 2014 | #8 | 12,113 | 0.6782% |
| 2013 | #8 | 12,429 | 0.7084% |
| 2012 | #7 | 12,728 | 0.7229% |
| 2011 | #7 | 13,261 | 0.7540% |
| 2010 | #7 | 14,257 | 0.8022% |
| 2009 | #8 | 14,401 | 0.7840% |
| 2008 | #8 | 15,087 | 0.7980% |
| 2007 | #8 | 15,476 | 0.8050% |
| 2006 | #6 | 15,633 | 0.8223% |
| 2005 | #4 | 15,756 | 0.8527% |
| 2004 | #6 | 15,435 | 0.8406% |
| 2003 | #6 | 15,932 | 0.8720% |
| 2002 | #7 | 15,302 | 0.8516% |
| 2001 | #8 | 14,807 | 0.8224% |
| 2000 | #14 | 13,094 | 0.7210% |
| 1999 | #18 | 11,686 | 0.6588% |
| 1998 | #18 | 11,100 | 0.6282% |
| 1997 | #26 | 9,629 | 0.5532% |
| 1996 | #32 | 8,604 | 0.4908% |
| 1995 | #36 | 7,824 | 0.4449% |
| 1994 | #42 | 7,243 | 0.4056% |
| 1993 | #67 | 5,185 | 0.2866% |
| 1992 | #86 | 3,988 | 0.2163% |
| 1991 | #92 | 3,799 | 0.2026% |
| 1990 | #90 | 3,719 | 0.1959% |
| 1989 | #94 | 3,405 | 0.1847% |
| 1988 | #118 | 2,376 | 0.1334% |
| 1987 | #138 | 2,001 | 0.1151% |
| 1986 | #143 | 1,996 | 0.1163% |
| 1985 | #153 | 1,848 | 0.1074% |
| 1984 | #154 | 1,844 | 0.1095% |
| 1983 | #151 | 1,910 | 0.1143% |
| 1982 | #157 | 1,886 | 0.1114% |
| 1981 | #156 | 1,816 | 0.1089% |
| 1980 | #176 | 1,577 | 0.0950% |
| 1979 | #213 | 1,226 | 0.0764% |
| 1978 | #242 | 1,010 | 0.0659% |
| 1977 | #297 | 795 | 0.0519% |
| 1976 | #278 | 827 | 0.0564% |
| 1975 | #353 | 615 | 0.0422% |
| 1974 | #357 | 605 | 0.0412% |
| 1973 | #413 | 479 | 0.0328% |
| 1972 | #468 | 393 | 0.0258% |
| 1971 | #491 | 392 | 0.0236% |
| 1970 | #526 | 362 | 0.0207% |
| 1969 | #590 | 281 | 0.0167% |
| 1968 | #592 | 263 | 0.0160% |
| 1967 | #609 | 244 | 0.0148% |
| 1966 | #710 | 191 | 0.0113% |
| 1965 | #679 | 209 | 0.0118% |
| 1964 | #655 | 244 | 0.0129% |
| 1963 | #633 | 255 | 0.0132% |
| 1962 | #617 | 263 | 0.0134% |
| 1961 | #679 | 233 | 0.0115% |
| 1960 | #673 | 228 | 0.0113% |
| 1959 | #699 | 206 | 0.0102% |
| 1958 | #712 | 192 | 0.0095% |
| 1957 | #731 | 187 | 0.0091% |
| 1956 | #694 | 190 | 0.0095% |
| 1955 | #700 | 180 | 0.0092% |
| 1954 | #773 | 147 | 0.0076% |
| 1953 | #705 | 169 | 0.0090% |
| 1952 | #723 | 151 | 0.0081% |
| 1951 | #749 | 137 | 0.0076% |
| 1950 | #824 | 112 | 0.0065% |
| 1949 | #823 | 113 | 0.0066% |
| 1948 | #1,041 | 72 | 0.0042% |
| 1947 | #1,003 | 78 | 0.0044% |
| 1946 | #953 | 76 | 0.0048% |
| 1945 | #1,080 | 53 | 0.0041% |
| 1944 | #1,046 | 56 | 0.0042% |
| 1943 | #996 | 63 | 0.0045% |
| 1942 | #1,137 | 48 | 0.0036% |
| 1941 | #1,184 | 40 | 0.0033% |
| 1940 | #1,035 | 48 | 0.0042% |
| 1939 | #974 | 53 | 0.0048% |
| 1938 | #1,007 | 50 | 0.0045% |
| 1937 | #1,063 | 45 | 0.0042% |
| 1936 | #1,186 | 36 | 0.0035% |
| 1935 | #1,162 | 37 | 0.0035% |
| 1934 | #1,316 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1933 | #1,262 | 32 | 0.0032% |
| 1932 | #1,346 | 30 | 0.0028% |
| 1931 | #1,421 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1930 | #1,569 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1929 | #1,306 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1928 | #1,210 | 40 | 0.0035% |
| 1927 | #1,404 | 33 | 0.0028% |
| 1926 | #1,483 | 30 | 0.0025% |
| 1925 | #1,296 | 37 | 0.0030% |
| 1924 | #1,503 | 31 | 0.0025% |
| 1923 | #1,428 | 32 | 0.0027% |
| 1922 | #1,536 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1921 | #1,765 | 24 | 0.0019% |
| 1920 | #1,375 | 33 | 0.0028% |
| 1919 | #1,393 | 31 | 0.0027% |
| 1918 | #1,566 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1917 | #1,110 | 41 | 0.0038% |
| 1916 | #1,167 | 37 | 0.0035% |
| 1915 | #1,094 | 38 | 0.0039% |
| 1914 | #1,228 | 25 | 0.0033% |
| 1913 | #1,601 | 14 | 0.0022% |
| 1912 | #1,055 | 24 | 0.0043% |
| 1911 | #1,031 | 18 | 0.0043% |
| 1910 | #1,110 | 16 | 0.0040% |
| 1909 | #1,219 | 12 | 0.0035% |
| 1908 | #1,135 | 13 | 0.0039% |
| 1907 | #1,142 | 12 | 0.0038% |
| 1906 | #965 | 15 | 0.0051% |
| 1905 | #1,162 | 11 | 0.0038% |
| 1904 | #1,364 | 8 | 0.0029% |
| 1903 | #760 | 20 | 0.0076% |
| 1902 | #818 | 18 | 0.0068% |
| 1901 | #918 | 13 | 0.0054% |
| 1900 | #1,008 | 14 | 0.0047% |
| 1899 | #1,278 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1898 | #1,047 | 11 | 0.0043% |
| 1897 | #826 | 15 | 0.0064% |
| 1896 | #843 | 15 | 0.0063% |
| 1895 | #815 | 15 | 0.0064% |
| 1894 | #850 | 13 | 0.0058% |
| 1893 | #630 | 21 | 0.0099% |
| 1892 | #908 | 11 | 0.0052% |
| 1891 | #839 | 11 | 0.0059% |
| 1890 | #940 | 9 | 0.0047% |
| 1889 | #567 | 20 | 0.0112% |
| 1888 | #593 | 18 | 0.0101% |
| 1887 | #633 | 13 | 0.0089% |
| 1886 | #572 | 15 | 0.0104% |
| 1885 | #745 | 9 | 0.0068% |
| 1884 | #583 | 13 | 0.0101% |
| 1883 | #579 | 11 | 0.0098% |
| 1882 | #493 | 14 | 0.0130% |
| 1881 | #623 | 8 | 0.0087% |
| 1880 | #492 | 12 | 0.0132% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #8,261 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #10,882 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #10,808 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #7,175 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #6,351 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #10,789 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #7,606 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #7,496 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #6,309 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #5,405 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2012 | #6,309 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2011 | #4,508 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #8,151 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #5,556 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #4,715 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #3,795 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 2006 | #5,306 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #5,876 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #1,501 | 89 | 0.0045% |
| 2003 | #3,732 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2002 | #4,046 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2001 | #4,121 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2000 | #4,574 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #4,162 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #3,391 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1997 | #8,121 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #3,830 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1995 | #4,792 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #4,803 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #4,700 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #3,748 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #4,232 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #3,058 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1989 | #2,784 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #4,450 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #3,522 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #3,131 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1985 | #3,601 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #4,979 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #3,410 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #4,596 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #4,963 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #3,614 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #4,940 | 6 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Abigail
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Abigail Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Abigail's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Abigail's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.