Abigail

Abigail meaning

Abigail is a Christian and international girl's name of Hebrew origin.

Father (that is, source) of joy

Also used to mean: father's joy

Abigail is the English form of the Hebrew name Abiygayil. Strong's Concordance builds it from ab, "father", and giyl, "joy" or "rejoicing", and explains the father here as a source, giving "father (that is, source) of joy". Name lists usually shorten this to "father's joy". In the First Book of Samuel (chapter 25) Abigail is the wife of the wealthy Nabal; when Nabal insults David, she rides out with gifts and persuades David not to take revenge, and after Nabal's death she becomes David's wife. The Bible describes her as a woman of good understanding. Abigail is used in Christian families in India, often shortened to Abby.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, H26 · entry Abiygayil · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Strong's Hebrew 26, Abiygayil (Bible Hub) · 1 Samuel 25 (KJV, Bible Hub)

Famous namesakes

• Abigail, wife of King David (1 Samuel 25)

Popularity abroad

• #41 United States, girls 2025 (down 9 from 32 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #171 England and Wales, girls 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Spellings

Abigail · Abigale · Abbigail

Related names

Also meaning joy

Also starting with Abi-

More names of Hebrew origin

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