Abel Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Abel

2 syllables

♂ Male ◎ Biblical / Hebrew / Aramaic ◈ 2 syllables

"Breathing"

From Biblical / Hebrew / Aramaic

Abel means breath or vapour — and he was the first murder victim in human history. Cain slew Abel out of jealousy, making Abel's story the Bible's first tragedy. But Abel was the righteous one — the shepherd whose offering God preferred. The Weeknd's real name is Abel Tesfaye. Four letters that carry the first breath, the first blood, and the first moral lesson.

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Abel at a glance

MeaningBreathing

OriginBiblical / Hebrew / Aramaic

GenderMale

Syllables2

NumerologyLife Path 2

US Rank (today)#174

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Why parents love Abel

Abel was the righteous brother — the one God favoured.
The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) is one of the biggest pop stars alive.
Four letters with a gentle, strong sound: AY-bel.
The meaning breath is elementally human.
The first-ever moral story gives it profound weight.

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The vibe of Abel

breathrighteousfirst-bloodshepherdWeekndgentlemoralvapour

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Origin & history of Abel

Hebrew הֶבֶל (Hevel, breath/vapour) → English Abel

Biblical / Hebrew / Aramaic roots

Abel comes from the Hebrew Hevel, meaning breath or vapour. In Genesis 4, Abel is a shepherd whose offering God prefers over his brother Cain's. Cain murders Abel out of jealousy — the first homicide in human history. Abel is therefore both the first victim and the first righteous person. The Weeknd's birth name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye. The name has been climbing in the US.

First recorded

Earliest known use: Biblical — Genesis 4, where Cain kills his brother Abel.

Today

Abel remains a beloved choice, ranking #174 in the US. 64,639 babies have been named Abel since 1880.

◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Genesis 4, SSA data

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How popular is Abel?

2015 peak year

The name Abel reached its peak in 2015, with 3,244 registrations (ranked #124). The name has actually been around since 1880 — over a century — though it took until recently to find its widest audience. Since the peak, the name has eased to around #174 today, averaging about 2,334 new babies per year. Abel has been declining in recent years. Across all years on record, approximately 64,639 American babies have carried this name.

Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data

3,244 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #124)

2,334 Avg. per year
(last decade)

23,340 Total registrations
last 10 years

64,639 All-time total
(since 1880)

Popularity in the US today (rank #174) Very popular

↓ Declining in recent years

📊 Check all names registered in the United States →

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Numerology of Abel

Life path number

The Peacemaker

Diplomacy, harmony and deep empathy.

Abel's Life Path 6 is the nurturer's number — the shepherd who nurtured. People named Abel tend to be gentle, righteous, and drawn to offering their best without jealousy.

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Offers his best

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Gentle righteousness

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First breath energy

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Shepherd's care

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Righteous without force

Sum: 11 → Life path 2

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