Abbe

GirlHebrew· “pet form of Abigail”

Meaning
pet form of Abigail
Origin
Hebrew
Pronunciation
A-bee
Syllables
2
US rank 2025
Unranked
US babies 2025
0
Best rank
#1,202 (1957)
Peak year
1958

Meaning and origin of Abbe

Abbe is a Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Abigail”.

Abbe is a pet form of Abigail, from the Hebrew Avigayil, meaning my father is joy. In the Books of Samuel, Abigail is a wise woman who later becomes a wife of King David. Abbe is also the French word abbé, a title for a priest, but as a given name it is usually just a short form of Abigail. It is said A-bee, with the stress on the first syllable. Abby, Abbie and Abi are related spellings. The spelling ending in e gives it a slightly unusual look, and the name keeps the joyful meaning of Abigail.

Other spellings with the same sound: Abby, Abbie, Abbey, Abie.

Popularity over time

02550751001960198020002020Peak 1958: 78
US babies named Abbe per year, 1880 to 2025

Abbe first appears in US Social Security records in 1949. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,202 in 1957, and the most babies received it in 1958, when 78 were named Abbe. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.

Its national rank moved from #3,423 in 1950, #2,537 in 1980, #5,491 in 2000, and #17,008 in 2010. Of the 1,325 US girls named Abbe since records began, 31% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 292 babies. Since 2010, 11 more have been named Abbe.

Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Larita, Alfredia, Cherylann, Dreama, and Viki.

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for girls.

Abbe is usually pronounced A-bee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with A and ends in “-be”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Abby, Abbie, Abbey, and Abie.

Middle names for Abbe

A few middle names that flow with Abbe: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Grace Girl
GRAYS
“grace” · English
#38
Claire Girl
KLAIR
“clear, bright” · French
#68
Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
#18
Savannah Girl
suh-VAN-uh
“treeless grassland” · English
#135

Sibling names for Abbe

Similar names

Roni Unisex
ROH-nee
“my joy” · Hebrew
#6,503
Phebe Girl
FEE-bee
“variant of Phoebe; bright, radiant” · Greek
#5,669
Michelle Girl
mih-SHEHL
“who is like God?” · French
#465
Mimi Girl
MEE-mee
“pet form of Maria or Miriam” · French
#7,765
Phoebe Girl
FEE-bee
“bright, radiant” · Greek
#157
Jamie Unisex
JAY-mee
“supplanter; pet form of James” · Scottish
#858
Carmen Girl
KAHR-muhn
“garden” · Spanish
#389
Shani Girl
SHAH-nee
“marvelous (Swahili); scarlet (Hebrew)” · Swahili
#12,980
Joey Unisex
JOH-ee
“he will add; short for Joseph” · English
#877
Nancy Girl
NAN-see
“grace; pet form of Anne” · English
#967
Dana Girl
DAY-nuh
“uncertain; several possible origins” · English
#1,027
Bebe Girl
BEE-bee
“baby, or short for Beatrice” · French
rare

Lists that include Abbe

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Abbe mean?

Abbe is a Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Abigail”.

What is the origin of the name Abbe?

Abbe has Hebrew roots. Abbe is a pet form of Abigail, from the Hebrew Avigayil, meaning my father is joy.

Is Abbe a popular name?

No. Abbe was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.

Is Abbe a boy or girl name?

Abbe is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.

How do you pronounce Abbe?

Abbe is usually pronounced A-bee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings