Avimelech as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Avimelech

What is the meaning of the name Avimelech ?

The baby name Avimelech is a Male name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced /a.vi.meˈlɛχ/ (ah-VEE-meh-lekh) or /əˌbɪˈmiːlɛk/ (uh-bi-MEE-lek).

Avimelech is Hebrew in Origin.

Avimelech is a Hebrew masculine name built from the elements avi (“my father”) and melech (“king”), yielding the meaning “my father is king” or “father of a king.” It corresponds to Hebrew אֲבִימֶלֶךְ (Avimelekh); the conventional English Bible spelling is Abimelech. Pronunciations vary - ah-vee-ME-lekh in Israeli Hebrew, while English often says uh-BIM-uh-lek.

In scripture the name is borne by several figures: a Philistine ruler of Gerar who interacts with Abraham and later Isaac, and the son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) who seized kingship in Judges. Because of this mixed legacy, the name sees limited modern use in Jewish communities, though related forms Avi and Melech function independently. Cross-language variants include Abimelec (Spanish), Abimélec (French), Abimelek (Polish/Scandinavian), and Avimelech/Avimelekh in transliteration. Some scholars regard it as a dynastic royal title. Not to be confused with Ahimelech (“brother of the king”).

⚙ Avimelech does not appear in any of the birth registries or name datasets we track. This usually means it's either extremely rare, a regional/traditional name not captured by official statistics, or a brand-new coinage. Use it knowing your child will almost certainly be the only one in the room.