Abel

Abel - A very unique male name

Abel appeared on the charts for the first time in 1911 on position #583. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Abel and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Abel? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Abel. The baby boy name Abel was given to 1,502 baby boys in 2025, ranking #231 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 976 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Abel peaked in popularity 11 years ago in 2015 on position 123.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Abel, 1-5?

Abel is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Abel is currently topping the baby name charts in New Mexico at position #148 - and is the least popular in New Jersey at position #656.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Abel is where you live.

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Abel origin and meaning

Hebrew, from the Bible

"Breath, vapor" — from Hebrew Hevel, suggesting something fleeting

Abel is Adam and Eve's second son in Genesis, the shepherd whose offering was accepted and who was killed by his brother Cain. The name was quiet for a century, surged to a peak in 2015 alongside other soft biblical names, and has eased down since.

Attested etymology

Abel is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Abel, pop culture references for the name Abel and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Abel

We've found the following names that sound similar to Abel, sorted by popularity.

Apollo / Abiel / Aviel / Able / Apolo /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Abel

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Abel a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Abel?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AY-bul · /ˈeɪbəl/

Around the world

• Abel (Spanish) — Used as-is in Spanish, pronounced ah-BEL
• Abel (French) — Used as-is in French

Spellings and nicknames

Nicknames: Abe

Famous bearers

• Abel — Second son of Adam and Eve in Genesis (Biblical) Historical
• Abel Tasman — Dutch explorer for whom Tasmania is named (1603–1659) Historical
• Abel Ferrara — Film director known for Bad Lieutenant (b. 1951) Contemporary

Style

BiblicalClassicInternational

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Abel for its gentle, open sound and biblical depth — a softer alternative to Caleb or Abel's harder-edged contemporaries.

Worth knowing

• The Cain and Abel story means the name's biblical bearer is a murder victim, which some families weigh.
• Abel is one letter from the word 'able,' and in Spanish it is pronounced ah-BEL.