Abigail is a female given name of Hebrew origin. It comes from the Hebrew words 'av' meaning "father" and 'gay' meaning "joy". Therefore, Abigail means "my father is joyful" or "she brings joy to her father".
The name Abigail first appeared in the Bible in the Book of Samuel. It was the name of one of King David's wives, who was known for her intelligence, courage, and kindness. She played a crucial role in preventing her husband from being murdered by his son Absalom.
Abigail has been used as a given name since the Middle Ages but it became particularly popular during the 19th century. Today, Abigail is widely recognized and used around the world, often ranking among the top 500 names for girls in various countries.
In literature, some notable characters named Abigail include Abigail Williams from Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" and Abigail Breslin, a famous actress known for her role in the movie "Little Miss Sunshine". This further contributes to the name's popularity and recognition.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Abigail has experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century and a half in the United States.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Abigail was not a particularly common name. Between 1880 and 1923, the annual number of births with the name Abigail varied between 7 and 45, with no clear trend or pattern.
However, starting in the mid-1920s, there was a gradual increase in the popularity of the name Abigail. From 1924 to 1945, the number of annual births with the name Abigail ranged from 30 to 76, showing a slow but steady growth.
The significant rise in the popularity of Abigail began in the late 1940s and continued through the 1950s. Between 1946 and 1959, the number of annual births with the name Abigail increased from 72 to 228, indicating that more parents were choosing this name for their daughters.
The popularity of Abigail peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s. From 1986 to 1993, the number of annual births with the name Abigail ranged from 1996 to 7240, reflecting its widespread usage during this period.
Since then, the popularity of Abigail has somewhat decreased but remains relatively high compared to the earlier periods. Between 1994 and 2023, the number of annual births with the name Abigail varied between 5661 and 9871, indicating that while it is no longer the most popular girl's name in the United States, it continues to be a well-liked choice.
In conclusion, the name Abigail has seen several waves of popularity over time in the United States. Although its usage has varied throughout history, it has consistently been a popular choice for parents naming their daughters since the mid-20th century. As of 2023, Abigail remains a widely recognized and well-liked girl's name in the United States.