Boy name · Hebrew
Abner
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: my father is lightAbner is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "my father is light". It is used in English and Hebrew.
- Meaning
- My father is light
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #874 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Abner
As a boy's name, Abner comes from Hebrew and means "my father is light". It is used in English and Hebrew.
Its meaning puts Abner on our names that mean light list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Abner on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Abner on 5 lists.
“Hebrew for my father is light; old-time and friendly”
From Redneck names for boys, classic country boy names
“My father is a light; Hebrew. Commander of Saul's army”
From Biblical names, rare biblical boy names
“My father is a light; Hebrew, King Saul's army commander”
From Names that mean light, boy names that mean light
“My father is a light; Hebrew. Commander of King Saul's army”
From Old man names, grandpa names coming back for babies
“My father is light; Hebrew, King Saul's army commander”
From Unique boy names, uncommon biblical boy names
How popular is Abner?
- US rank in 2025
- #874
- 274 babies, 160 per million boys
- Best rank
- #289 in 1881
- Most babies: 293 in 2024
- Babies since 1880
- At least 9,454
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 241 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 181 per million |
| 1900s | 158 per million |
| 1910s | 102 per million |
| 1920s | 63 per million |
| 1930s | 40 per million |
| 1940s | 22 per million |
| 1950s | 13 per million |
| 1960s | 16 per million |
| 1970s | 17 per million |
| 1980s | 25 per million |
| 1990s | 37 per million |
| 2000s | 67 per million |
| 2010s | 99 per million |
| 2020s | 136 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,011 | #1,029 | #1,016 | #1,091 | #976 | #1,023 | #1,113 | #997 | #838 | #874 |
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 Abner
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- LuciaLight, brightness (Latin, girl)
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
- AbrahamFather of many (Hebrew, boy)
- LucianaLight, brightness (Latin, girl)
- LucianoLight, brightness (Latin, boy)
- LucyLight, brightness (Latin, girl)
- NoorLight, radiance (Arabic, unisex)
- UrielGod is my light (Hebrew, boy)
- AbigailMy father is joy (Hebrew, girl)
Middle names for Abner
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- CarltonSettlement of free peasants (Old English, boy)
- CarterCart driver (English, boy)
- ClarkCleric, scribe (Old English, boy)
- CyprianFrom Cyprus (Latin, boy)
- MatthewGift of God (Hebrew, boy)
- RiverFlowing river (English, unisex)
- TyroneLand of Eoghan (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- WayneWagon maker or driver (Old English, boy)
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)
Abner: common questions
What does the name Abner mean?
Abner comes from Hebrew and means "my father is light".
Is Abner a boy or girl name?
Abner is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Abner come from?
Abner comes from Hebrew and means "my father is light". Today it is used in English and Hebrew.
How popular is the name Abner?
Abner ranked #874 in the US in 2025, with 274 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Abner?
Names spelled like Abner include Abel, Adler, Ander, Asher and Abe.
What middle names go with Abner?
Middle names that flow well with Abner include Carlton, Carter, Clark, Cyprian and Matthew. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.