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	—	7	0.0019%
1912	—	10	0.002%
1913	—	20	0.0035%
1914	—	15	0.0022%
1915	—	24	0.0026%
1916	—	41	0.0042%
1917	—	57	0.0057%
1918	—	54	0.005%
1919	—	37	0.0035%
1920	—	46	0.0041%
1921	—	52	0.0045%
1922	—	59	0.0053%
1923	—	35	0.0031%
1924	—	81	0.007%
1925	—	45	0.004%
1926	—	76	0.0069%
1927	—	56	0.0051%
1928	—	40	0.0037%
1929	—	64	0.0062%
1930	—	81	0.0078%
1931	—	70	0.0071%
1932	—	79	0.008%
1933	—	76	0.0082%
1934	—	69	0.0071%
1935	—	65	0.0067%
1936	—	48	0.005%
1937	—	68	0.0069%
1938	—	61	0.006%
1939	—	73	0.0072%
1940	—	82	0.0077%
1941	—	97	0.0086%
1942	—	84	0.0067%
1943	—	75	0.0057%
1944	—	92	0.0074%
1945	—	93	0.0076%
1946	—	83	0.0056%
1947	—	111	0.0066%
1948	—	133	0.0083%
1949	—	130	0.0081%
1950	—	134	0.0083%
1951	—	153	0.009%
1952	—	134	0.0077%
1953	—	197	0.0111%
1954	—	199	0.0109%
1955	—	199	0.0108%
1956	—	187	0.0099%
1957	—	210	0.0109%
1958	—	213	0.0113%
1959	—	203	0.0107%
1960	—	222	0.0117%
1961	—	234	0.0124%
1962	—	230	0.0125%
1963	—	242	0.0135%
1964	—	252	0.0143%
1965	—	247	0.0151%
1966	—	224	0.0143%
1967	—	204	0.0134%
1968	—	232	0.0155%
1969	—	247	0.016%
1970	—	251	0.0158%
1971	—	281	0.0187%
1972	—	294	0.0216%
1973	—	315	0.0243%
1974	—	295	0.0227%
1975	—	354	0.0275%
1976	—	351	0.0272%
1977	—	308	0.0228%
1978	—	330	0.0245%
1979	—	377	0.0267%
1980	—	427	0.0292%
1981	—	429	0.0292%
1982	—	421	0.0282%
1983	—	376	0.0255%
1984	—	387	0.026%
1985	—	413	0.0272%
1986	—	438	0.029%
1987	—	409	0.0268%
1988	—	468	0.03%
1989	—	490	0.0304%
1990	—	553	0.0334%
1991	—	582	0.0357%
1992	—	588	0.0368%
1993	—	567	0.0364%
1994	—	531	0.0346%
1995	—	666	0.0442%
1996	—	567	0.0379%
1997	—	663	0.0448%
1998	—	619	0.0414%
1999	—	671	0.0448%
2000	—	717	0.0469%
2001	—	702	0.0466%
2002	—	724	0.0483%
2003	—	716	0.0471%
2004	—	760	0.0499%
2005	—	803	0.0525%
2006	—	892	0.057%
2007	—	904	0.0573%
2008	—	831	0.0538%
2009	—	933	0.0624%
2010	—	1,101	0.0764%
2011	—	1,477	0.1037%
2012	—	1,934	0.1357%
2013	—	2,226	0.1563%
2014	—	2,556	0.1754%
2015	—	3,235	0.2223%
2016	—	3,020	0.2095%
2017	—	2,674	0.1916%
2018	—	2,655	0.1932%
2019	—	2,441	0.1803%
2020	—	2,072	0.1628%
2021	—	1,927	0.1576%
2022	—	1,732	0.1313%
2023	—	1,641	0.1268%

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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

11 Comments

Skyla Dec 14 at 8:17 am

It is Biblical

Reply
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.

Reply

Abel