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Abagail

Girl Name #5,943 Most Popular Hidden Gem 3 Syllables

A timeless Hebrew name meaning father's joy

Hebrew English American Christian
Classic Traditional Literary Strong Elegant

Meaning & Origin

"my father is joy"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
"source of joy, father's delight"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: English

The Story of Abagail

Abagail is an alternate spelling of Abigail, from the Hebrew name Avigayil (אֲבִיגַיִל) meaning 'my father is joy' or 'source of joy.' In the Hebrew Bible, Abigail was a wise and beautiful woman who prevented the future King David from committing violence against her foolish husband Nabal. After Nabal died, she became one of David's wives. Her intelligence and diplomacy made her one of the most celebrated women in the Hebrew scriptures.

Abigail has been a consistently top-10 American girls' name since the late 1990s, driven by parents' appreciation for its biblical depth, strong nickname Abby, and timeless elegance. The spelling Abagail appeals to families who want the beloved name with a slightly distinctive look — the 'a' in the second syllable giving it a more phonetic appearance.

In the Hebrew Bible, Abigail is praised for her wisdom and tact in a rare positive characterization of a woman who acts independently. In 18th-century England, 'abigail' became a common noun meaning a lady's maid (from a character in the play The Scornful Lady). Abigail Adams was the wife and advisor to President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams.

Fun Facts

  • Abigail Adams advised her husband President John Adams to 'remember the ladies' in the new nation's laws — a proto-feminist plea in 1776
  • In the Bible, Abigail is described as 'intelligent and beautiful' — one of the few women given such an explicit double compliment
  • Abigail has been a top-10 U.S. girls' name for over 20 consecutive years

Abagail in Other Languages

Arabic أبيغيل
French Abigaïl
German Abigail
Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל
Spanish Abigail

Popularity Over Time

#5,943
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 2008 Based on SSA data 1880–present

Famous People Named Abagail

A

Abigail Breslin

Actor

1996

American actress nominated for an Academy Award for Little Miss Sunshine at age 10

A

Abigail Adams

Other

1744

Wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams; influential early American political corresponde...

Wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams; influential early American political correspondent

A

Abigail (Biblical)

Other

Wife of King David in the Hebrew Bible, praised for her wisdom and beauty in 1 Samuel 25

Quick Facts

Gender
Girl
Syllables
3
Popularity Rank
#5,943
Total SSA Count
21
Cultural Origins
Hebrew English American Christian
Pronunciation
Easy
Formality
Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease
High

Common Nicknames

Abby Abbie Gail Abi

Middle Name Ideas

Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style

Sibling Names

Elijah Samuel Hannah Naomi Benjamin Rebekah Caleb

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Similar Names

Abbie Gabriel Abbey Abigale Abbigail Abilene Abigayle Avigail

Compare Abagail with...

Abagail vs Abbie Abagail vs Gabriel Abagail vs Abbey Abagail vs Abigale

Same Origin Names (Hebrew)

Liam #1 Olivia #1 Noah #2 Emma #2 Oliver #3 Amelia #3 Theodore #4 Charlotte #4

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Frequently Asked Questions About Abagail

What does the name Abagail mean?
"my father is joy" (from Hebrew). "source of joy, father's delight" (from Hebrew). Abagail is an alternate spelling of Abigail, from the Hebrew name Avigayil (אֲבִיגַיִל) meaning 'my father is joy' or 'source of joy.' In the Hebrew Bible, Abigail was a wise and beautiful woman who prevented the future King David from committing violence against her foolish husband Nabal. After Nabal died, she became one of David's wives. Her intelligence and diplomacy made her one of the most celebrated women in the Hebrew scriptures.
What is the origin of the name Abagail?
Abagail has Hebrew, English, American, and Christian origins. In Hebrew, it means "my father is joy". In Hebrew, it means "source of joy, father's delight".
Is Abagail a boy or girl name?
Abagail is primarily used as a girl name.
How popular is the name Abagail?
Abagail is currently ranked #5943 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Abagail?
Common nicknames for Abagail include Abby, Abbie, Gail, and Abi.
What are good middle names for Abagail?
Popular middle name pairings include Abagail Grace, Abagail Rose, Abagail Mae, Abagail Jane, Abagail Lynn, Abagail Claire, and Abagail Faith.
What are good sibling names for Abagail?
Names that pair well with Abagail as siblings include Elijah, Samuel, Hannah, Naomi, Benjamin, Rebekah, and Caleb.
How many syllables does Abagail have?
Abagail has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Abagail a common or rare name?
Abagail is an uncommon name, ranked #5943 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Abagail

Abagail is a girl name with Hebrew, English, American, and Christian origins . The name means "my father is joy" in Hebrew .

Abagail is currently ranked #5,943 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

The name Abagail has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.

Common nicknames for Abagail include Abby, Abbie, Gail, and Abi. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

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