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
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.
Sibling names for Abbe
Similar names
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