Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Abigail
GirlHebrew· “my father is joy”
- Meaning
- my father is joy
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- A-buh-gayl
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #41
- US babies 2025
- 4,941
- Best rank
- #4 (2005)
- Peak year
- 2003
Meaning and origin of Abigail
Abigail is a Hebrew name that means “my father is joy”.
Abigail comes from the Hebrew Avigayil, "my father is joy". In the First Book of Samuel, Abigail is a wise and eloquent woman who persuades David not to take revenge on her foolish husband, and she later becomes one of David's wives. The Puritans favored the name, and Abigail Adams, the letter-writing wife of President John Adams, is its best-known American bearer. For a time "abigail" was even an English word for a lady's maid, after a servant character in a seventeenth-century play. The name returned strongly in recent decades and feels friendly yet substantial. Abby, Abbie and Gail are the usual nicknames.
Popularity over time
Abigail has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 102 different years. Its best national rank was #4 in 2005, and the most babies received it in 2003, when 15,932 were named Abigail. In 2025, 4,941 babies were named Abigail, and it ranked #41 nationally. That is 60% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,375 in 1920, #824 in 1950, #176 in 1980, #14 in 2000, #7 in 2010, and #41 in 2025. Of the 413,263 US girls named Abigail since records began, 37% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 118,734 babies. Since 2010, 156,113 more have been named Abigail.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Grace, Emma, Hailey, Paige, and Trinity.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Abigail ranked highest in Alaska, Delaware, and Maine.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | #12 | 20 |
| Delaware | #14 | 21 |
| Maine | #21 | 26 |
| New Hampshire | #22 | 33 |
| Idaho | #24 | 41 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Abigail is usually pronounced A-buh-gayl, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with A and ends in “-il”.
Middle names for Abigail
A few middle names that flow with Abigail: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Abigail
Similar names
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Lists that include Abigail
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Abigail mean?
Abigail is a Hebrew name that means “my father is joy”.
What is the origin of the name Abigail?
Abigail has Hebrew roots. Abigail comes from the Hebrew Avigayil, "my father is joy".
Is Abigail a popular name?
Yes. Abigail ranked #41 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Abigail a boy or girl name?
Abigail is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Abigail?
Abigail is usually pronounced A-buh-gayl. 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