Boy nameCurrently #220 in the USFalling
Abel
AY-bul//ˈeɪbəl//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20154 lettersStarts with A
Meaning & origin
Breath, vapor
Abel comes from the Hebrew 'hevel', meaning breath or vapor, suggesting the fleeting fragility of life, and in Genesis he is the second son of Adam and Eve, killed by his brother Cain. Its short, gentle sound has made it a growing modern favorite despite its poignant biblical story.
Abel's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Abel |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 9 |
| 1881 | 12 |
| 1882 | 10 |
| 1883 | 12 |
| 1884 | 14 |
| 1885 | 6 |
| 1886 | 16 |
| 1887 | 11 |
| 1888 | 8 |
| 1889 | 9 |
| 1890 | 14 |
| 1891 | 10 |
| 1892 | 8 |
| 1893 | 13 |
| 1894 | 15 |
| 1895 | 6 |
| 1896 | 15 |
| 1897 | 12 |
| 1898 | 10 |
| 1899 | 15 |
| 1900 | 15 |
| 1901 | 13 |
| 1902 | 11 |
| 1903 | 14 |
| 1904 | 10 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1906 | 11 |
| 1907 | 10 |
| 1908 | 15 |
| 1909 | 16 |
| 1910 | 11 |
| 1911 | 30 |
| 1912 | 40 |
| 1913 | 48 |
| 1914 | 51 |
| 1915 | 64 |
| 1916 | 62 |
| 1917 | 86 |
| 1918 | 76 |
| 1919 | 91 |
| 1920 | 79 |
| 1921 | 84 |
| 1922 | 91 |
| 1923 | 73 |
| 1924 | 110 |
| 1925 | 83 |
| 1926 | 101 |
| 1927 | 79 |
| 1928 | 85 |
| 1929 | 96 |
| 1930 | 122 |
| 1931 | 93 |
| 1932 | 95 |
| 1933 | 96 |
| 1934 | 93 |
| 1935 | 92 |
| 1936 | 75 |
| 1937 | 91 |
| 1938 | 87 |
| 1939 | 95 |
| 1940 | 101 |
| 1941 | 121 |
| 1942 | 105 |
| 1943 | 92 |
| 1944 | 118 |
| 1945 | 113 |
| 1946 | 117 |
| 1947 | 146 |
| 1948 | 151 |
| 1949 | 161 |
| 1950 | 170 |
| 1951 | 183 |
| 1952 | 162 |
| 1953 | 217 |
| 1954 | 223 |
| 1955 | 215 |
| 1956 | 215 |
| 1957 | 236 |
| 1958 | 241 |
| 1959 | 226 |
| 1960 | 247 |
| 1961 | 281 |
| 1962 | 258 |
| 1963 | 272 |
| 1964 | 274 |
| 1965 | 282 |
| 1966 | 256 |
| 1967 | 251 |
| 1968 | 267 |
| 1969 | 277 |
| 1970 | 283 |
| 1971 | 310 |
| 1972 | 321 |
| 1973 | 360 |
| 1974 | 330 |
| 1975 | 387 |
| 1976 | 395 |
| 1977 | 347 |
| 1978 | 371 |
| 1979 | 434 |
| 1980 | 479 |
| 1981 | 485 |
| 1982 | 468 |
| 1983 | 435 |
| 1984 | 427 |
| 1985 | 461 |
| 1986 | 487 |
| 1987 | 463 |
| 1988 | 519 |
| 1989 | 549 |
| 1990 | 613 |
| 1991 | 623 |
| 1992 | 631 |
| 1993 | 625 |
| 1994 | 584 |
| 1995 | 717 |
| 1996 | 606 |
| 1997 | 718 |
| 1998 | 668 |
| 1999 | 711 |
| 2000 | 763 |
| 2001 | 733 |
| 2002 | 775 |
| 2003 | 760 |
| 2004 | 797 |
| 2005 | 855 |
| 2006 | 924 |
| 2007 | 940 |
| 2008 | 864 |
| 2009 | 969 |
| 2010 | 1,127 |
| 2011 | 1,516 |
| 2012 | 1,951 |
| 2013 | 2,245 |
| 2014 | 2,572 |
| 2015 | 3,254 |
| 2016 | 3,050 |
| 2017 | 2,712 |
| 2018 | 2,693 |
| 2019 | 2,467 |
| 2020 | 2,130 |
| 2021 | 1,966 |
| 2022 | 1,773 |
| 2023 | 1,658 |
| 2024 | 1,635 |
Abel through the decades
- Abel peaked in 2015, when 3,254 babies were named Abel in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Abel has risen 67% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Abel currently ranks #220 in the US and is cooling off.
Nicknames
Abel
Variants & spellings
Abél