How to say it
A · bel
ˈeɪ.bəl
Masculine
Abel
Breath, vapor
What it means
Hebrew Hevel, 'breath' or 'vanity, fleeting.' The biblical Abel was Adam and Eve's second son, killed by his brother Cain, the first death in Genesis.
Abel comes from the Hebrew Hevel ('breath, vapor, fleeting'), the same word that opens Ecclesiastes ('vanity of vanities'). In Genesis Abel is Adam and Eve's second son, a shepherd, killed by his older brother Cain, the first death in scripture. The name carried particular weight in early Christian tradition as a type of the suffering righteous. The English Abel has been steady for centuries; it surged in the late 2000s alongside the broader Old Testament revival. It's been in the US top 100 since 2018. Single syllable doesn't shorten further.
How to spell Abel
The standard spelling is Abel. Common variants include Abel, Avel, but Abel is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #124 in 2015, currently #231 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
The biblical story is the unavoidable reference; East of Eden (Steinbeck, 1952) is the strongest English-language literary anchor.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Abel (Bible) Second son of Adam and Eve, killed by his brother Cain
Spelling variants
- Abel
- Avel
Names with the same feeling
See Abel from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Abel mean?
- Hebrew Hevel, 'breath' or 'vanity, fleeting.' The biblical Abel was Adam and Eve's second son, killed by his brother Cain, the first death in Genesis.
- What does Abel mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Abel means "Breath, vapor." Abel comes from the Hebrew Hevel ('breath, vapor, fleeting'), the same word that opens Ecclesiastes ('vanity of vanities'). In Genesis Abel is Adam and Eve's second son, a shepherd, killed by his older brother Cain, the first death in scripture. The name carried particular weight in early Christian tradition as a type of the suffering righteous. The English Abel has been steady for centuries; it surged in the late 2000s alongside the broader Old Testament revival. It's been in the US top 100 since 2018. Single syllable doesn't shorten further.
- How do you pronounce Abel?
- Abel is pronounced ˈeɪ.bəl. Say it as A-bel, with the stress on the "a" syllable.
- How do you spell Abel?
- The standard spelling is Abel. Common spelling variants include Abel, Avel.
- Is Abel a boy or girl name?
- Abel is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Abel?
- Abel ranked #231 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.