The story behind Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”).
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Portuguese entry
a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Abigail, from Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”).
Pronunciation
US: /ˈæb.ə.ɡeɪl/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Portuguese; Brazil: /a.bi.ɡaˈiw/
- Portuguese; Brazil: [a.bi.ɡaˈiʊ̯]
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ɐ.bi.ɡɐˈil/
- Portuguese; Portugal: [ɐ.βi.ɣɐˈiɫ]
- Portuguese; Portugal; Southern: /ɐ.bi.ɡɐˈi.li/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈʔabiɡejl/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˌʔaː.bɪˈɣ̠eɪ̯l]
Popularity
Abigail ranked #41 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Abigail
Abigaíl
Borrowed from Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “her Father's joy, or, fountain of joy”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Daffodil
From the daffodil flower, used since the end of the 19th century.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Danijel
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Δᾱνῑήλ (Dānīḗl), from Biblical Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל (Dāniyyêl).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Emanuel
Variant of Emmanuel, borrowed from Spanish and from various other European languages. Borrowed from Hebrew עִמָּנוּאֵל (imanu'él), from עִמָּנוּ אֵל (imánu él, literally “God…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Emmanuel
Variant of Immanuel.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Eseciel
a male given name from Hebrew יְחֶזְקֵאל (“God strengthens”), equivalent to English Ezekiel
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Abigail
Aarão
From Latin Aarōn, from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן ('aharón). Doublet of Faro.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Abigail
Barak
From Hebrew בָּרָק (“lightning”). From Arabic بَارَك (bārak, “he who is blessed”). Cognate with the biblical name Baruch of Hebrew origin. The usage of the root ب ر ك (b r k)…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends K
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Barnaba
From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from the Hebrew בּר (bar, “son”) and נָבִיא (naví, “prophet”). Derived from Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Barnabas
From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from Aramaic בַרְנֶבֻאָה (barneḇú’â, literally “prophet's son”), from בּר (bar, “son of”) and נְבִיָּא (nəḇiyyā, “prophet”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length