Abigail is a female given name of Hebrew origin. It comes from the Hebrew words 'av' meaning "father" and 'gay' meaning "joy". Therefore, Abigail means "my father is joyful" or "she brings joy to her father".
The name Abigail first appeared in the Bible in the Book of Samuel. It was the name of one of King David's wives, who was known for her intelligence, courage, and kindness. She played a crucial role in preventing her husband from being murdered by his son Absalom.
Abigail has been used as a given name since the Middle Ages but it became particularly popular during the 19th century. Today, Abigail is widely recognized and used around the world, often ranking among the top 500 names for girls in various countries.
In literature, some notable characters named Abigail include Abigail Williams from Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" and Abigail Breslin, a famous actress known for her role in the movie "Little Miss Sunshine". This further contributes to the name's popularity and recognition.
The given statistics show the annual number of babies named Abigail born in the United States from 1880 to 2023. Over this period, the popularity of the name Abigail has fluctuated significantly.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the number of Abigail births was relatively low, ranging from a single digit to double digits. The highest point during this time was in 1915 with 38 births. However, starting in the mid-20th century, there was a significant increase in the popularity of the name Abigail.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the number of Abigail births began to rise steadily, reaching over 1000 per year by 1979. The peak in popularity occurred in 2001 with 14807 Abigail births, which was more than double the previous year's total.
However, after reaching its peak, the popularity of the name Abigail began to decline again. Since 2016, the number of Abigail births has consistently been below 1000 per year, with a total of 5661 Abigail births in 2023.
Overall, while the name Abigail experienced periods of high and low popularity over the course of 143 years, it remains a classic choice for baby girls in the United States.