Origin: |
In the Old Testament, Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve. Some scholars derive it from the Hebrew hebel "breath, vapor" which figuratively meant 'vanity'.* Others, derive it from the Assyrian ablu "son," perhaps with the meaning of 'true son.'* According to the Book of Genesis, Cain, the firstborn, was a farmer, and the younger son, Abel, was a shepherd. Some, therefore, have linked the name Abel to the Assyrian ibilu "ram, camel, ass, or wild sheep."* |
Usage: |
There are a handful of early saints who bore the name Abel, including an early Syrian saint, Abel of Tacla Haimonot, an early Coptic saint and Saint Abel of Reims (d. 764) who was abbot of Lobbes and Bishop of Reims. According to some sources, Saint Abel of Reims was either Scottish or Irish, but it is not known whether the latter had Abel as his birth name, or whether he adopted it later. This does, however, tie in with the fact that Abel was adopted by early Irish clerics, such as monks Abel of Emlagh (d. 747) and Abel of Portumna (d.754). In Britain, Abel was in use in Britain in the Middle Ages, perhaps, in some part, thanks to this early saintly boost. There was also a 13th century king of Denmark who bore the name. There are several examples of Abel in use as a given name in the 12th and 13th century in England. It is described by Reaney and Wilson* as "a common 13th century christian name" and was used sufficiently to establish the surnames Abel, Able, Abelson and Nabb – the later of which derived from the pet-form Nab. It seems to have dropped out of use in the 14th century. Certainly, George Redmond's rank of 1000 names from ten counties in the poll taxes between 1377 and 1381 doesn't feature Abel. However, by the late 16th century, Abel was back in use again in moderate numbers.
Births in England and Wales:
It's biggest leap came in 2016, when it moved up from #290 (163 births) to #227 (247 births). In 2017, Abel ranked #196 in England and Wales with 276 births and #281 in Scotland with 15 births. |
Famous Bearers: |
Royalty: * Abel, King of Denmark (1218–1252), Duke of Schleswig and King of Denmark. History: * Abel of Tacla Haimonot, a saint of the Abyssinian Church. Contemporary: * Abel Ferrara (born 1951), American film director. Literature and Other Media: * Abel Magwitch, a character in Charles Dicken's novel Great Expectations (1861). |
Variants: |
Hebel, Hevel (Hebrew), Abele (Italian), Aapeli (Finnish) |
Pronunciation: |
AY-bəl [key] |
Possible diminutives: |
Abe, Nab |
Sibling Names: |
Eden Sadie Cora Eve Anya Jemima |
Name Lists: |
Quirky Biblical Names Slim Softies Royal Names of Europe Dickensian Names |
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Thanks to Jean for requesting this name.