What does Abel mean?
From the Hebrew Hevel, usually read “breath” or “vapour.” Abel is the son of Adam in Genesis.
What does Abraham mean?
From the Hebrew Avraham, “father of many.” Abraham is the patriarch of three faiths.
Abel vs Abraham
Which is more popular?
Abraham is more popular than Abel today: about 1,664 US babies were given the name Abraham in 2025, compared with 1,525 named Abel.
| Abel | Abraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Breath | Father of multitudes |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | AY-bul | AY-bruh-ham |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2015 (3,245) | 2016 (2,584) |
| In 2025 | 1,525 | 1,664 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Abel
Abraham
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Abel | Abraham |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10,674 | 10,755 |
| 2010s | 23,554 | 22,220 |
| 2000s | 8,364 | 19,854 |
| 1990s | 6,484 | 13,021 |
| 1980s | 4,730 | 8,691 |
| 1970s | 3,528 | 5,138 |
| 1960s | 2,665 | 2,711 |
| 1950s | 2,088 | 2,918 |
| 1940s | 1,225 | 2,235 |
| 1930s | 939 | 2,500 |
| 1920s | 881 | 5,114 |
| 1910s | 559 | 6,040 |
| 1900s | 121 | 1,145 |
| 1890s | 118 | 849 |
| 1880s | 107 | 776 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Abel or Abraham more popular?
Abraham is more popular than Abel today: about 1,664 US babies were given the name Abraham in 2025, compared with 1,525 named Abel.
What is the difference between Abel and Abraham?
Abel means Breath (Hebrew origin), while Abraham means Father of multitudes (Hebrew origin).
Which name is older, Abel or Abraham?
In US records, Abel first appears in 1880 and Abraham in 1880, so Abel has the longer recorded history.