Abigail is a name of Hebrew origin that means "father's joy". It was first used as a given name in the Bible, where it was the name of one of King David's wives. In English-speaking countries, Abigail has been popular since the early 20th century and reached its peak popularity in the late 1990s to early 2000s. It is still widely used today, often appearing as a top 500 name for girls in the United States and other English-speaking countries.
The name Abigail has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 15 births per year from 1976 to 1983. However, there was a significant increase in its popularity starting in 1984, with more than 20 births recorded annually between 1984 and 1990.
The name Abigail reached its peak popularity in the United States in 2004, with an astonishing 89 births that year. This marked a significant increase from previous years and showed that the name was becoming quite fashionable during this time.
After 2004, the number of births named Abigail began to decline gradually but steadily over the next decade or so. Between 2005 and 2016, the number of annual births with the name Abigail ranged from a low of 9 in 2010 to a high of 27 in 2007.
In recent years, the popularity of the name Abigail has continued to fluctuate. There were 13 births each in 2018 and 2019, followed by a decrease to 6 births each in 2021 and 2022. However, there was another increase to 9 births recorded in 2023.
Overall, while Abigail has experienced periods of varying popularity over the past several decades, it remains a name that parents continue to consider for their daughters even today.