How to say it
AB · i · gail
ˈæb.ɪ.ɡeɪl
Feminine
Abigail
Father's joy
What it means
Hebrew, from av (father) and gil (joy). A daughter who is her father's joy.
Abigail shows up in the Bible's 1 Samuel as the woman David marries after Nabal's death. She's remembered for her quick thinking and good judgment. Protestant naming traditions of the 17th century carried it into English. An 18th-century slump turned it into a stage-comedy shorthand for 'maidservant,' but the 20th century brought it back. It re-entered the US top ten in the 2000s and has stayed in the top thirty since.
How to spell Abigail
The standard spelling is Abigail. Common variants include Abby, Abbey, Avigail, Abigaille, but Abigail is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #4 in 2005, currently #41 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
- Nickname
Most commonly shortens to Abby. Gail and Abbie also show up, but Abby is the default in current US usage.
- Pop culture
Abigail Adams is the strongest historical association, which gives the name a presidential-letter-writer dignity some parents lean into.
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.
- Abigail Adams Second US First Lady, prolific letter writer, late 1700s
- Abigail Breslin Actress, Little Miss Sunshine and Zombieland
- Abigail (Bible) Wife of King David, known for averting bloodshed by diplomacy
Spelling variants
- Abby
- Abbey
- Avigail
- Abigaille
Names with the same feeling
See Abigail from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Abigail mean?
- Hebrew, from av (father) and gil (joy). A daughter who is her father's joy.
- What does Abigail mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Abigail means "Father's joy." Abigail shows up in the Bible's 1 Samuel as the woman David marries after Nabal's death. She's remembered for her quick thinking and good judgment. Protestant naming traditions of the 17th century carried it into English. An 18th-century slump turned it into a stage-comedy shorthand for 'maidservant,' but the 20th century brought it back. It re-entered the US top ten in the 2000s and has stayed in the top thirty since.
- How do you pronounce Abigail?
- Abigail is pronounced ˈæb.ɪ.ɡeɪl. Say it as AB-i-gail, with the stress on the "ab" syllable.
- How do you spell Abigail?
- The standard spelling is Abigail. Common spelling variants include Abby, Abbey, Avigail, Abigaille.
- Is Abigail a boy or girl name?
- Abigail is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Abigail?
- Abigail ranked #41 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.