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Abel as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Abel

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The baby name Abel is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced English: /ˈeɪbəl/ (AY-bəl); Hebrew original: הֶבֶל Hevel /ˈhevel/.

Abel is Hebrew in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: English: /ˈeɪbəl/ (AY-bəl); Hebrew original: הֶבֶל Hevel /ˈhevel/

What is the meaning of the name Abel ?

The baby name Abel is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced English: /ˈeɪbəl/ (AY-bəl); Hebrew original: הֶבֶל Hevel /ˈhevel/.

Abel is Hebrew in Origin.

Abel derives from the Hebrew Hevel (Hevel), commonly interpreted as "breath," "vapor," or "transience," echoing themes of ephemerality in the Hebrew Bible. Some scholars also cite a possible Akkadian root ablu, "son," though this is debated. In Genesis, Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve, a pastoral figure whose murder by his brother Cain made his name emblematic of innocence and martyrdom.

Adopted early by Christians, Abel appeared across medieval Europe and saw periodic revivals, notably among Reformation Protestants and in the 19th century. Usage today is steady in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries and familiar throughout the Anglophone world. Forms and variants include Abel (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German), Abele (Italian), Ábel (Hungarian, Slovak), and Avel/Авель (Russian, Belarusian). Common short forms are Abe (English) and Abelito in Spanish. A notable historical bearer is King Abel of Denmark (1218–1252).

Abel has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Abel

The Weeknd Actor · Born 1990 · Canada Abel Tesfaye, better known as the Weeknd, is most famous for being a Canadian singer-songwriter behind hits like "Blinding Lights," "Starboy," and "Can't Feel My Face." He is known for his smooth tenor and falsetto vocals, alternative R&B style, and the cinematic storytelling in his music videos. Abel of Denmark Royal · Born 1218 · Kingdom of Denmark Abel of Denmark was a King of Denmark, known for his short reign from 1250 to 1252. He was involved in a civil war against his brother, King Eric IV, which ultimately led to Eric's assassination. Abel's rule was marked by ongoing conflicts and his untimely death during a military campaign in Friesland. Abel Ferrara Actor|musician · Born 1951 · United States Abel Ferrara is an American filmmaker and actor best known for his provocative, often controversial movies and his distinctive neo-noir style. He directed films like Bad Lieutenant, King of New York, and Ms. 45.
Abel Laudonio Actor · Born 1938 · Argentina Abel Ricardo Laudonio was an Argentine boxer best known for winning a bronze medal in the lightweight division at the 1960 Olympics. As an amateur, he also competed at the 1956 Olympics and built a strong international boxing career.

Celebrity babies named Abel

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Abel Arnett Amy Poehler film director ★★★★★ Will Arnett television actor ★★★★★

Abel – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
Germany Boys 2025 #1 — 423
ET 0 #6 1 246
BF 0 #10 1 188
HT 0 #12 1 399
ET Boys 0 #13 15 678
NL Boys 2014 #19 162 79
BW 0 #19 1 960
BF Boys 0 #23 4 439
SV Boys 0 #26 3 352
NA 0 #28 6 2,537
HT Boys 0 #31 4 903
HN Girls 0 #38 1 884
BI Boys 0 #39 6 917
MT 0 #43 1 1,767
GE 0 #44 1 997
HN Boys 0 #46 7 749
CM 0 #49 8 2,592
MO 0 #51 2 2,706
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
AO Boys 0 #60 299 5,568
AO 0 #62 15 2,729
LU 0 #64 3 2,830
BW Boys 0 #66 90 4,685
PA Boys 0 #70 1,756 9,305
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
MV Boys 0 #78 2 3,375
CN 0 #79 8 3,857
PE Boys 0 #79 8,302 14,506
Norway Boys 2025 #84 59 444
NA Boys 0 #88 170 6,830
France Boys 2021 #90 676 2,865
MX Boys 0 #90 10,604 16,355
JM 0 #93 1 3,714
EC 0 #97 19 2,502
BO Boys 0 #100 2,285 9,244
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
Spain Boys 0 #103 6,242 5,610
PA 0 #103 28 3,797
PT Boys 0 #103 825 7,951
QA 0 #103 4 7,011
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
GE Boys 0 #105 6 2,055
PH 0 #105 6 5,607
Belgium Boys 2024 #110 79 401
BN Girls 0 #112 3 5,459
Switzerland Boys 2024 #118 20 1,769
OM 0 #118 4 6,215
KW 0 #121 1 5,216
AR Boys 0 #122 1,323 7,628
EE Boys 0 #125 1 2,087
MU 0 #126 11 3,613
AZ Boys 0 #131 1 1,400
ID Boys 0 #133 3 4,130
BN Boys 0 #134 6 6,332
GT Boys 0 #134 887 7,625
CR 0 #144 15 5,526
PE 0 #144 192 6,350
BW Girls 0 #148 4 4,216
EC Boys 0 #148 109 3,322
PR Boys 0 #148 27 2,508
SD Boys 0 #150 471 10,523
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
BO 0 #157 280 6,868
HU Boys 0 #162 13 3,954
AE 0 #168 10 10,220
AR 0 #170 17 2,915
Sweden Boys 2022 #172 11 1,509
CM Boys 0 #173 740 12,054
MU Boys 0 #173 216 8,477
MT Boys 0 #175 5 4,064
UY 0 #177 6 2,477
HR 0 #180 2 2,081
ZA Boys 0 #181 3,576 25,619
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
CO Boys 0 #187 3,653 15,656
NG 0 #187 79 5,926
GT 0 #189 128 5,948
LU Girls 0 #189 2 4,850
NG Boys 0 #190 2,785 16,906
LU Boys 0 #191 28 4,970
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
CL Boys 0 #195 1,820 13,390
UY Boys 0 #196 346 5,922
AO Girls 0 #198 12 4,575
PT 0 #201 46 4,161
CR Boys 0 #203 422 10,188
MO Boys 0 #204 20 5,842
United States Boys 2024 #207 1,627 7,044
Canada Boys 2024 #210 99 2,588
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
MX 0 #216 218 8,339
BG Boys 0 #219 2 3,850
GH 0 #222 22 5,396
GH Boys 0 #223 133 8,138
Spain 0 #225 281 2,326
TW Boys 0 #225 17 7,111
AL Girls 0 #226 2 4,141
PS 0 #226 1 5,692
NA Girls 0 #230 8 7,146
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
CN Boys 0 #240 82 9,639
France Girls 1949 #243 7 969
HR Boys 0 #246 13 3,997
GR Girls 0 #249 1 6,293
SG 0 #250 20 11,010
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
MO Girls 0 #262 2 7,056
GR Boys 0 #267 7 6,912
IL 0 #281 2 6,291
TW Girls 0 #282 8 8,139
JP Boys 0 #284 14 7,909
SA 0 #285 11 10,560
Canada Girls 2021 #286 5 2,910
KZ Boys 0 #289 8 6,578
JM Boys 0 #291 3 6,876
AL Boys 0 #299 5 5,122
CZ Boys 0 #303 3 6,530
DK Boys 0 #307 19 7,401
MY 0 #307 24 12,352
PH Boys 0 #310 74 11,440
BR 0 #325 21 5,969
BR Boys 0 #329 694 12,213
DK Girls 0 #329 1 7,429
SD Girls 0 #331 15 7,678
KZ Girls 0 #332 1 5,862
PL Boys 0 #334 7 6,459
GH Girls 0 #335 3 6,973
QA Girls 0 #336 8 15,378
HK 0 #349 9 8,483
CZ Girls 0 #351 1 5,378
CL 0 #357 55 6,867
CN Girls 0 #357 3 8,829
ZA 0 #357 91 14,421
MU Girls 0 #358 5 8,539
NL 0 #367 25 2,481
OM Girls 0 #387 10 15,987
JO Boys 0 #388 2 7,057
CO 0 #390 91 7,768
YE 0 #390 9 8,639
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
Finland Boys 0 #414 14 2,041
Austria Boys 0 #417 26 2,180
PH Girls 0 #424 6 13,098
Germany 0 #426 12 2,542
PA Girls 0 #460 22 9,861
HK Boys 0 #468 60 12,905
PT Girls 0 #470 2 7,952
PS Boys 0 #477 72 10,655
RU Boys 0 #477 29 12,621
NL Boys 0 #490 572 5,873
KW Girls 0 #491 25 19,177
BH 0 #499 55 17,937
LY 0 #509 27 12,703
CM Girls 0 #514 27 11,671
RU Girls 0 #521 3 11,913
IQ Girls 0 #525 1 11,303
Finland Boys 2026 #527 162 3,552
AE Girls 0 #531 23 20,968
UY Girls 0 #534 3 6,731
GT Girls 0 #536 6 7,500
SG Boys 0 #537 162 17,960
PS Girls 0 #540 8 10,981
IL Boys 0 #554 54 10,983
IR Boys 0 #560 6 10,162
NG Girls 0 #569 227 15,093
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
SG Girls 0 #576 11 18,916
AR Girls 0 #587 13 8,289
BO Girls 0 #590 22 9,488
HK Girls 0 #593 23 16,104
BD Boys 0 #603 3 10,045
QA Boys 0 #612 96 18,093
LB 0 #642 17 13,263
IL Girls 0 #643 3 11,648
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
IQ Boys 0 #658 10 13,071
KW Boys 0 #690 80 18,755
IT 0 #697 18 4,183
SY 0 #762 6 11,684
TN 0 #789 41 13,765
EG Boys 0 #797 90 15,035
OM Boys 0 #808 74 17,948
MA 0 #815 321 20,986
Germany Boys 0 #831 122 5,697
CL Girls 0 #834 18 14,098
IT Boys 0 #853 674 10,046
MY Boys 0 #858 255 25,439
PE Girls 0 #891 53 14,861
SA Girls 0 #891 45 25,931
United States Girls 2024 #909 8 8,487
AE Boys 0 #915 178 22,615
MY Girls 0 #929 66 24,821
BR Girls 0 #931 11 12,708
NL Girls 0 #941 15 5,933
Spain Girls 0 #944 40 5,561
IN Boys 0 #956 46 16,750
EG Girls 0 #1,003 7 14,742
ZA Girls 0 #1,030 112 25,928
CO Girls 0 #1,048 31 16,140
DZ 0 #1,059 118 20,130
MX Girls 0 #1,119 65 17,781
SA Boys 0 #1,170 470 28,008
TR 0 #1,189 23 19,440
IT Girls 0 #1,426 21 9,415

Abel is popular in 92 countries — most recent births per country:

France
NL
Norway
Canada
Switzerland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Abel

Abel is predominantly a boy's name.
Abel is a 2 syllable name, pronounced English: /ˈeɪbəl/ (AY-bəl); Hebrew original: הֶבֶל Hevel /ˈhevel/.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Hevel, Avel, Abele, Ábel and Abél.
Across languages, Abel has these equivalents: Hebrew: הֶבֶל (Hevel), Russian: Авель (Avel).
Yes, very popular — Abel ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 12 countries.
Abel ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Abel's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #172 in 2011 to #90 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 4 notable people named Abel are in our database, including The Weeknd (Actor), Abel of Denmark (Royal), Abel Ferrara (Actor|musician).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Abel for their child, including Amy Poehler and Will Arnett.