Boy name · Hebrew
Abe
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: father of manyAbe is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "father of many". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Father of many
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #2207 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Abe
As a boy's name, Abe comes from Hebrew and means "father of many". It is used in English.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Abe on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Abe on 3 lists.
“Father of many; Hebrew, the friendly short form of Abraham”
From Cute boy names, short and cute boy names
“Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863”
From Funny names for turkeys, thanksgiving turkey names
“Father of many; Hebrew. Short for Abraham”
From Old man names, cozy grandpa nickname names
How popular is Abe?
- US rank in 2025
- #2,207
- 64 babies, 37 per million boys
- Best rank
- #215 in 1898
- Most babies: 280 in 1917
- Babies since 1880
- At least 9,694
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 404 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 442 per million |
| 1900s | 421 per million |
| 1910s | 314 per million |
| 1920s | 136 per million |
| 1930s | 66 per million |
| 1940s | 39 per million |
| 1950s | 28 per million |
| 1960s | 22 per million |
| 1970s | 21 per million |
| 1980s | 15 per million |
| 1990s | 12 per million |
| 2000s | 23 per million |
| 2010s | 35 per million |
| 2020s | 34 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,208 | #1,936 | #1,856 | #1,849 | #2,437 | #2,195 | #2,380 | #2,346 | #2,419 | #2,207 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Abe
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names spelled like Abe
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- AceFrom the English word ace, highest rank (English, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- AliHigh, exalted (Arabic, boy)
- AlexDefender, protector (Greek, unisex)
- AbnerMy father is light (Hebrew, boy)
- AdelJust, fair (Arabic, boy)
- AresPerhaps from Greek words for bane, ruin, or male (Greek, boy)
- AriA lion (Hebrew, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
- AbigailMy father is joy (Hebrew, girl)
- AbramHigh father (Hebrew, boy)
- CleopatraGlory of the father (Greek, girl)
- AbaigealMy father is joy (Hebrew, girl)
- AbihailMy father is strength (Hebrew, unisex)
- AbijahMy father is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- AbitalMy father is dew (Hebrew, girl)
- AbolfazlFather of grace, generosity (Arabic, boy)
- AbsalomFather is peace (Hebrew, boy)
Middle names for Abe
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
Abe: common questions
What does the name Abe mean?
Abe comes from Hebrew and means "father of many".
Is Abe a boy or girl name?
Abe is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Abe come from?
Abe comes from Hebrew and means "father of many". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Abe?
Abe ranked #2,207 in the US in 2025, with 64 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Abe?
Forms of Abe with the same meaning and origin include Abraham (English), Avi (Hebrew) and Bram (Dutch).
What middle names go with Abe?
Middle names that flow well with Abe include Cedar, Cyprian, Fletcher, Gideon and Henry. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.