Abner
Abner is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Father of light or my father is a lamp.
Origin and history
Abner is a biblical male given name of Hebrew origin, traditional in English-speaking countries. In the Old Testament, Abner was the cousin of King Saul and commander-in-chief of his army. The name has seen a modest rise in contemporary U.S. usage, remaining a recognizable classical choice.
Popularity in the United States
9,454 babies in the United States have been named Abner since 1880. It ranks #1236 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #893.
States where it is most popular
- CA (21.2 %)
- TX (19.3 %)
- PA (11.2 %)
- NY (11.1 %)
- FL (6.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 264 |
| 1890-1900 | 207 |
| 1900-1910 | 215 |
| 1910-1920 | 683 |
| 1920-1930 | 691 |
| 1930-1940 | 419 |
| 1940-1950 | 328 |
| 1950-1960 | 266 |
| 1960-1970 | 305 |
| 1970-1980 | 276 |
| 1980-1990 | 454 |
| 1990-2000 | 727 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,343 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,863 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,413 |
Famous people named Abner
- Abner Doubleday: Military officer, General
- Abner Haynes: Athlete, Football player
Nicknames
Ab, Abe
Fun facts
- In the Old Testament, Abner was a key military leader under King Saul.
- Abner Doubleday was a Union general in the American Civil War often mythologized as the inventor of baseball.