Abigail is a name of Hebrew origin that means "father rejoices." It is derived from the Hebrew word "ab" meaning father and "gal" meaning joy or happiness. The name Abigail has been popular throughout history, with several notable figures sharing this name.
One of the most famous Abigails in history is Abigail, the wife of King David in the Old Testament of the Bible. According to the story, Abigail was a wise and intelligent woman who prevented her husband from committing adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. She later became one of King David's wives after Uriah was killed in battle.
Another notable Abigail is Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, the second President of the United States. Abigail was known for her intelligence and strong opinions on politics and social issues. She was a frequent correspondent with her husband while he was away serving as a diplomat in Europe, and their letters provide valuable insights into the early days of the American Revolution.
The name Abigail has also been popular among royalty throughout history. Queen Consort Abigail Mazarolle was the wife of King Louis XII of France in the 16th century, while Princess Abigail of Lucinge is a member of the Swedish royal family today.
Despite its long history and many notable figures, the name Abigail remains relatively uncommon compared to other names like Emily or Sarah. However, it has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Today, Abigail is often associated with intelligence, wisdom, and strength of character, qualities that were embodied by many of the historic figures who bore this name.
The name Abigail has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the years in the United States. In the late 1950s to early 1960s, it was quite uncommon with only five births each year from 1958 to 1963. However, starting from 1970, there was a notable increase in its usage, with six births recorded that year.
The popularity of Abigail continued to grow steadily throughout the 1970s and 1980s, reaching a significant milestone in 1982 with 28 births. This number more than doubled by 1995, with 141 babies named Abigail born that year. The trend continued into the late 1990s and early 2000s, peaking at 310 births in 2003.
However, since then, the popularity of the name Abigail has been declining. After 2003, there was a noticeable decrease each year until 2016 when it dropped below 100 births for the first time since 1983. This downward trend has continued with only 37 births recorded in both 2021 and 2022.
In total, over the period from 1958 to 2023, there have been a total of 5842 babies named Abigail born in the United States.