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