Abel Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Boy Names Like Abel

Abel Name Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: ay-buhl
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Abel Name Meaning

The name Abel is derived from the Hebrew word “hevel” which means “breath” or “vanity”. It is also associated with the word “abhal” which means “mourning”. Thus, the name Abel is often associated with fragility, transience and the brevity of life.

Origins of the Name Abel

The name Abel comes from the Bible, specifically from the book of Genesis. In the Bible, Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve, and the first murder victim. He was a shepherd and his brother Cain was a farmer. According to the Bible, God accepted Abel’s offering of the firstborn of his flock and rejected Cain’s offering of the fruits of the ground. Cain became jealous of Abel, and ultimately killed him.

Popularity of the Name Abel

The name Abel has not been as popular as other names throughout history, but it has had its moments in the spotlight. In the United States, the name Abel was most popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and it has been fluctuating in popularity ever since. According to the Social Security Administration, Abel was the 514th most popular boy’s name in the United States in 2020.

Famous Abels

While the name Abel may not be as common as some others, there have been a number of notable people throughout history who have borne the name. Here are a few famous Abels that you may have heard of:

Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer who was the first European to discover the island of Tasmania and New Zealand.
Abel Gance, a French film director and producer who is best known for his silent film “Napoleon.”
Abel Ferrara, an American film director, screenwriter, and producer.
Abel Xavier, a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Abel Tesfaye, Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer known professionally as The Weeknd

Final Thoughts on the Name Abel

The name Abel may not be as popular as some other baby boy names, but it has a rich history and a powerful meaning. The name is rooted in the Bible and has been associated with fragility, transience and the brevity of life. While it may not be as common, it’s still a unique and meaningful choice for a baby boy. And with famous Abels ranging from explorers to artists, your little Abel is sure to make his mark on the world.

Abel Name Popularity

How popular is the name Abel? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	—	0	0%
1911	570	7	0.0019%
1912	747	10	0.002%
1913	645	20	0.0035%
1914	840	15	0.0022%
1915	805	24	0.0026%
1916	693	41	0.0042%
1917	621	57	0.0057%
1918	650	54	0.005%
1919	761	37	0.0035%
1920	722	46	0.0041%
1921	697	52	0.0045%
1922	667	59	0.0053%
1923	806	35	0.0031%
1924	591	81	0.007%
1925	720	45	0.004%
1926	587	76	0.0069%
1927	666	56	0.0051%
1928	746	40	0.0037%
1929	611	64	0.0062%
1930	557	81	0.0078%
1931	571	70	0.0071%
1932	541	79	0.008%
1933	546	76	0.0082%
1934	581	69	0.0071%
1935	582	65	0.0067%
1936	632	48	0.005%
1937	571	68	0.0069%
1938	603	61	0.006%
1939	548	73	0.0072%
1940	529	82	0.0077%
1941	504	97	0.0086%
1942	546	84	0.0067%
1943	589	75	0.0057%
1944	534	92	0.0074%
1945	522	93	0.0076%
1946	580	83	0.0056%
1947	546	111	0.0066%
1948	503	133	0.0083%
1949	506	130	0.0081%
1950	503	134	0.0083%
1951	487	153	0.009%
1952	526	134	0.0077%
1953	456	197	0.0111%
1954	464	199	0.0109%
1955	473	199	0.0108%
1956	501	187	0.0099%
1957	486	210	0.0109%
1958	487	213	0.0113%
1959	498	203	0.0107%
1960	488	222	0.0117%
1961	478	234	0.0124%
1962	482	230	0.0125%
1963	468	242	0.0135%
1964	461	252	0.0143%
1965	456	247	0.0151%
1966	467	224	0.0143%
1967	479	204	0.0134%
1968	459	232	0.0155%
1969	451	247	0.016%
1970	472	251	0.0158%
1971	449	281	0.0187%
1972	437	294	0.0216%
1973	414	315	0.0243%
1974	430	295	0.0227%
1975	392	354	0.0275%
1976	391	351	0.0272%
1977	421	308	0.0228%
1978	401	330	0.0245%
1979	394	377	0.0267%
1980	368	427	0.0292%
1981	371	429	0.0292%
1982	376	421	0.0282%
1983	396	376	0.0255%
1984	392	387	0.026%
1985	398	413	0.0272%
1986	382	438	0.029%
1987	409	409	0.0268%
1988	390	468	0.03%
1989	405	490	0.0304%
1990	389	553	0.0334%
1991	371	582	0.0357%
1992	372	588	0.0368%
1993	382	567	0.0364%
1994	403	531	0.0346%
1995	350	666	0.0442%
1996	388	567	0.0379%
1997	359	663	0.0448%
1998	381	619	0.0414%
1999	370	671	0.0448%
2000	357	717	0.0469%
2001	361	702	0.0466%
2002	354	724	0.0483%
2003	361	716	0.0471%
2004	355	760	0.0499%
2005	354	803	0.0525%
2006	338	892	0.057%
2007	346	904	0.0573%
2008	361	831	0.0538%
2009	331	933	0.0624%
2010	293	1,101	0.0764%
2011	239	1,477	0.1037%
2012	191	1,934	0.1357%
2013	180	2,226	0.1563%
2014	164	2,556	0.1754%
2015	123	3,235	0.2223%
2016	137	3,020	0.2095%
2017	146	2,674	0.1916%
2018	146	2,655	0.1932%
2019	156	2,441	0.1803%
2020	179	2,072	0.1628%
2021	195	1,927	0.1576%
2022	214	1,732	0.1313%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Abel

If you like Abel, you’ll love these other names like Abel.

What names are variants of Abel?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Abel.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Abe	A diminutive form of Abraham.	Hebrew
Abele	Breath, vapour	Hebrew
Abell	Breath, vapour	Hebrew
Abelson	Breath, vapour	Hebrew
Abey	Breath, vapour; father of a multitude (of nations); high father	Hebrew
Abie	Breath, vapour; father of a multitude (of nations); high father	Hebrew
Able	Breath, vapour	Hebrew
Avel	Breath, vapour	Hebrew

What names sound like Abel?

If you like how Abel sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Abel.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Abiel	My father is the Lord	Hebrew
Abyel	My father is the Lord	Hebrew

What names are similar to Abel?

Find a name that’s like Abel, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Abelard	Noble strength	German

Lists With Abel

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Abel.

Siblings of Abel

Mamas with kids named Abel also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Abell	Breath, vapour	Hebrew

Share Your Thoughts

10 Comments

Abel Oct 28 at 5:04 pm

Abel is my name and I love him

Reply
- Abel Nov 27 at 5:59 am
  
  I love my name and the next to bring my name Abel to the world
  
  Reply
Maboitumelo Nov 12 at 1:13 am

I like the story of Abel in the bible. The sacrifice he did for his father showed the love and trust he had for his father

Reply
Maboitumelo Sep 11 at 7:30 am

Abel was a very humble child to his family

Reply
John May 27 at 10:30 am

my husband and I have only ever wanted one child, so we had to make his name count. He was born as a Preemie and had to spend a long time in the NICU, we were going to name him, Frank, but when we saw him it just didn’t fit. He has the biggest blue eyes you have ever seen and he was so quiet. Out of the blue, the name Abel popped into my head. My husband said sure. we named him Abel Adam because Adam means Man, So his name means. “Able Man”

Reply
Camille Mar 3 at 11:42 am

It means “Breath” in Hebrew, and Abel was the second born to Adam and Eve who offered a pleasing sacrifice to God; God was well pleased with him.

Reply
Ashley Feb 25 at 2:59 pm

My husband had his heart set on Abel for a boy since day one

Reply
Mallory Feb 15 at 2:57 pm

I love everything about Abel’s name

Reply
Rosemary Oct 7 at 7:16 pm

Named him after his father

Reply
Sarah Aug 31 at 6:59 pm

I chose this name because it means breath, and first son. Which both have significance as he was my first born, and when he was born he was not breathing. He spent 7 days in the NICU due to his lung issues.

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Abel