Find out how popular the first name Abel has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Abel by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Abel is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Abel being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,648 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Abel.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Abel in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Abel

The name Abel has its origins in the Hebrew language. It is derived from the Hebrew word "hevel" which means "breath" or "vapor". The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East region during ancient times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abel is found in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible, where it is the name given to the second son of Adam and Eve. According to the biblical account, Abel was a shepherd who was killed by his brother Cain out of jealousy.

In the Christian tradition, Abel is regarded as the first martyr and a symbol of innocence and righteousness. The name has been popular among Christians throughout history, particularly in Europe and the Americas.

Some notable individuals named Abel throughout history include:

1. Abel the Righteous (circa 4000 BC), the biblical figure and the second son of Adam and Eve.
2. Abel Remusat (1788-1832), a French sinologist and pioneering scholar of Chinese language and culture.
3. Abel Gance (1889-1981), a prominent French film director, actor, and producer, best known for his epic silent film "Napoléon".
4. Abel Sanchez (1899-1971), a Mexican boxer and former world bantamweight champion.
5. Abel Muzorewa (1925-2010), a Zimbabwean politician and former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

The name Abel has been used across various cultures and languages, with variations in spelling and pronunciation. In English, it is often spelled as "Abel" or "Abell". In Spanish, it is spelled "Abel" or "Abél". In French, it is spelled "Abel" or "Abèle". In German, it is spelled "Abel" or "Abell".

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Abel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Abel, please contact us.

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