What Does the Name Abigail Mean?
Abigail is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning “my father is joy / father's joy.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Abigail |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | my father is joy / father's joy |
| Variants | Abby, Abbie, Gail, Abigayle |
| Popularity | US Top 10 girls' name for much of the 2000s-2010s |
The meaning and origin of Abigail
The name Abigail means “my father is joy / father's joy” and has Hebrew origins. From the Hebrew 'Avigayil', meaning 'my father is joy'. Borne by a wife of King David in the Old Testament, it became popular among the Puritans and again in modern America.
Variants and related names
Abigail is related to several other names you may recognize: Abby, Abbie, Gail, Abigayle. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Abigail?
US Top 10 girls' name for much of the 2000s-2010s
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Abigail mean?+
The name Abigail means “my father is joy / father's joy” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Abigail?+
Abigail originates from Hebrew.
Is Abigail a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Abigail has trended in the US over time.
Abigail by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press