Fun Facts About the Name Abegail
- 515 babies named Abegail: U.S. records list 515 babies given the name Abegail from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Abegail Mean?
Abegail is a variant spelling of Abigail, a Hebrew name commonly translated as "my father is joy" or "father's joy." Its Hebrew form is אֲבִיגַיִל (Avigayil), formed from אָב (av, "father") and גִּיל (gil, "joy"). The middle element is often understood as a first-person possessive, yielding the literal sense "my father is joy"; because the Hebrew grammar is not completely certain, English sources also give the looser gloss "father's joy." The spelling Abegail changes the second syllable of Abigail from i to e, but it keeps the same origin and meaning.
Abegail Name History & Origins
The name comes from the Hebrew Bible. In 1 Samuel, Abigail is the intelligent and beautiful wife of Nabal; after Nabal dies, she becomes one of David's wives. A second Abigail appears in 2 Samuel as the mother of Amasa. The Hebrew name passed into Greek as Ἀβιγαία (Abigaia) and into Latin as Abigail, the form that entered English through Bible translation. In English, Abigail is the standard spelling, while Abegail is one of several variants - along with Abigael, Abagail, and Abbigail - that represent the same biblical name.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, English Protestants who favored Old Testament names used Abigail, and the name also has a long history in Jewish communities. A later and separate development is the 17th-century use of abigail as a common noun for a lady's maid, an association that comes from a theatrical character named Abigail, not from the Hebrew name's meaning. Abegail has no separate origin; it follows the same pronunciation and history as Abigail.
How Popular is the Name Abegail?
Abegail has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2000. Its best rank was #3,665 in 2000.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | #12,454 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #10,547 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #8,784 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #12,887 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #8,971 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #10,239 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #6,872 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2011 | #7,117 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2010 | #5,247 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2009 | #6,092 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2008 | #6,800 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #5,708 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2006 | #4,810 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2005 | #4,487 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2004 | #5,555 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2003 | #6,056 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2002 | #6,393 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #4,688 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2000 | #3,665 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1999 | #7,720 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #5,123 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1997 | #7,288 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #6,394 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1995 | #5,439 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #6,319 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #8,054 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #10,481 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #13,148 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #7,882 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #8,040 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #10,912 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #8,152 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #7,310 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #10,411 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with A
How the Name Abegail Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Abegail's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Abegail's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.