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Abel

Boy

Meaning of Abel: Hebrew: 'breath' or 'vapor'

Abel is a boy's name most strongly associated with Hebrew naming. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, and it is one of today's most-chosen names — 238th most popular boys' name in the United States in 2025 and 166th in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#238

1,530 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#166

302 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

66,198

First recorded 1880 · peak 2015

Trend

falling

Style: popular

Popularity over time

1981: 485 babies1982: 468 babies1983: 435 babies1984: 426 babies1985: 462 babies1986: 487 babies1987: 463 babies1988: 519 babies1989: 549 babies1990: 613 babies19901991: 623 babies1992: 631 babies1993: 625 babies1994: 584 babies1995: 717 babies1996: 606 babies1997: 718 babies1998: 668 babies1999: 711 babies2000: 763 babies20002001: 733 babies2002: 775 babies2003: 760 babies2004: 797 babies2005: 855 babies2006: 924 babies2007: 940 babies2008: 864 babies2009: 969 babies2010: 1,128 babies20102011: 1,516 babies2012: 1,952 babies2013: 2,245 babies2014: 2,573 babies2015: 3,255 babies2016: 3,051 babies2017: 2,714 babies2018: 2,693 babies2019: 2,469 babies2020: 2,131 babies20202021: 1,968 babies2022: 1,776 babies2023: 1,663 babies2024: 1,643 babies2025: 1,530 babies
US babies named Abel per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 3,255.

Gender split

100% boys · 0% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More Hebrew boys' names

Other names starting with A