The story behind Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the homonymous word הֶבֶל (heḇel, “breath, vapor; vanity”) or from Akkadian 𒌉𒍑 (ablu, “son”).
Other language forms and explanations (7)
Dutch entry
Ultimately from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (hével).
Polish entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Abel.
Portuguese entry
From Old Galician-Portuguese Abel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל.
Romanian entry
Borrowed from Latin Abel.
Catalan entry
From Late Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל.
Serbo-Croatian entry
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל (heḇel).
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from Spanish Abel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (heḇel, “breath, vapor; vanity”).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈeɪ.bl̩/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Dutch: /ˈaː.bəl/
- Polish: /ˈa.bɛl/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /aˈbɛw/
- Portuguese; Brazil: [aˈbɛʊ̯]
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ɐˈbɛl/
- Portuguese; Portugal: [ɐˈβɛɫ]
- Portuguese; Portugal; Southern: /ɐˈbɛ.li/
- Romanian: /ˈabel/
- Catalan; Northern: [əˈβe̞l]
- Catalan; Balearic: [əˈbɛl]
- Catalan; Central: [əˈβɛl]
- Catalan; Valencia: [aˈbɛl]
- Catalan; Northwestern: [aˈβɛl]
- Serbo-Croatian: /ǎːbel/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ʔaˈbel/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ʔɐˈbɛl]
Popularity
Abel ranked #14959 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Abel
Ábel
From Hebrew הבל (Hebel).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adriel
Borrowed from Hebrew עדריאל (“flock of God”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Angel
A male given name, variant of Angelo Borrowed from English Angel. Borrowed from Spanish Ángel. Doublet of Angelo.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ángel
Borrowed from Latin Angelus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aniol
From Latin Andeoulus, from Ancient Greek ἀνδρός (andrós). Compare Spanish Andeol.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Antal
a male given name from Latin, equivalent to English Anthony
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Abel
Ann
From Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna the Prophetess, from Koine…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Dan
From Hebrew דָּן (Dan). Dimunitve of Danjell (“Daniel”), Daniel (“id”) and Daniell (“id”). From Latin Daniēl (from Ancient Greek Δᾱνῑήλ (Dānīḗl), from Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Eve
From Middle English Eve, Eue, from Old English Ēua, Ēfe, from Latin Eva, from Ancient Greek Εὔα (Eúa), from Biblical Hebrew חַוָּה (ḥawwā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Abel
Boaz
From Biblical Hebrew בֹּעַז (Bṓʿaz).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Cain
From Hebrew קַיִן (Káyin, “craftsman”), present since Old English.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Cato
From Latin Cato. A cognomen made particularly famous by Cato the Elder and Younger, members of the gens Porcia.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection