Abigail
Abigail is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
My father is joy or cause of joy.
Origin and history
Abigail is a classic feminine name derived from the Hebrew name Avigayil. In the Old Testament, Abigail is depicted as an intelligent and beautiful woman who becomes the wife of King David. The name has consistently ranked among the top female names in the United States, remaining popular throughout the 2000s and into the 2020s.
Popularity in the United States
413,263 babies in the United States have been named Abigail since 1880. It ranks #89 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #22.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.3 %)
- TX (9.4 %)
- NY (5.5 %)
- OH (4.6 %)
- FL (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 133 |
| 1890-1900 | 128 |
| 1900-1910 | 136 |
| 1910-1920 | 270 |
| 1920-1930 | 322 |
| 1930-1940 | 365 |
| 1940-1950 | 647 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,671 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,411 |
| 1970-1980 | 6,704 |
| 1980-1990 | 20,658 |
| 1990-2000 | 72,779 |
| 2000-2010 | 150,926 |
| 2010-2019 | 118,734 |
| 2020-2029 | 37,379 |
Famous people named Abigail
- Abigail Adams: First Lady, Letter writer
- Abigail Breslin: Actress
- Abigail Spencer: Actress
Nicknames
Abby, Abbie, Abbi, Gail
Fun facts
- In the Hebrew Bible, Abigail is described as intelligent and beautiful, later becoming a prophetess and wife of King David.
- Two U.S. First Ladies bore the name: Abigail Adams and Abigail Fillmore.