Boy name · Hebrew
Abel
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: breathAbel is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "breath". It is used in English, Spanish, French and Hebrew.
- Meaning
- Breath
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #231 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Abel
As a boy's name, Abel comes from Hebrew and means "breath". It is used in English, Spanish, French and Hebrew.
In French, say ah-BEL. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Abel is also a surname: the 2,011th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 17,596 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Abel on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Abel on 5 lists.
“Breath; Hebrew. Second son of Adam and Eve”
From Biblical names, names from Genesis
“Breath; Hebrew. Son of Adam and Eve”
From Boy middle names, biblical middle names for boys
“Hebrew for breath; short, steady and old-fashioned”
From Cowboy names, western boy names
“Breath; Hebrew, the second son of Adam and Eve”
From Cute boy names, cute biblical boy names
“Breath; Hebrew. Say ah-BEL”
From French boy names, short French boy names
How popular is Abel?
- US rank in 2025
- #231
- 1,525 babies, 893 per million boys
- Best rank
- #124 in 2015
- 3,245 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 66,037
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 98 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 103 per million |
| 1900s | 89 per million |
| 1910s | 84 per million |
| 1920s | 80 per million |
| 1930s | 89 per million |
| 1940s | 82 per million |
| 1950s | 103 per million |
| 1960s | 138 per million |
| 1970s | 214 per million |
| 1980s | 256 per million |
| 1990s | 333 per million |
| 2000s | 419 per million |
| 2010s | 1,253 per million |
| 2020s | 1,030 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #137 | #145 | #146 | #158 | #181 | #195 | #215 | #220 | #220 | #231 |
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.
Names spelled like Abel
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- AdelJust, fair (Arabic, boy)
- AbeFather of many (Hebrew, boy)
- AlexDefender, protector (Greek, unisex)
- ArielLion of God (Hebrew, boy)
- AbnerMy father is light (Hebrew, boy)
- AnselGod helmet (Germanic, boy)
- AresPerhaps from Greek words for bane, ruin, or male (Greek, boy)
- AbdielServant of God (Hebrew, boy)
Middle names for Abel
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)
Abel: common questions
What does the name Abel mean?
Abel comes from Hebrew and means "breath".
Is Abel a boy or girl name?
Abel is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 5 girls and 1,525 boys in the US were named Abel, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Abel come from?
Abel comes from Hebrew and means "breath". Today it is used in English, Spanish, French and Hebrew.
How popular is the name Abel?
Abel ranked #231 in the US in 2025, with 1,525 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Abel?
Names spelled like Abel include Axel, Adel, Abe, Alex and Ariel.
What middle names go with Abel?
Middle names that flow well with Abel include Bernard, Cooper, Drake, Joseph and Leopold. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.