Origin and meaning of Abigail
| Meaning | My father's joy |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl |
| Rating | |
| Name List | Add to name list |
| Used in | English and Hebrew speaking countries |
| Extra Info | Abigail was an Old Testament character who saved her negligent husband from the wrath of King David. After her husband's death, she later married David. David's sister was also named Abigail. Abigail was quite commonly used in English-speaking communities from the late seventeenth century on, particularly in the American colonies. It fell into disuse in the early twentieth century, but is now among the most popular names for girls in the U.S., UK, and Australia. The name Abigail is sometimes cited as meaning "servant," but there is no etymological basis for this definition. Famous Abigails in literature include the daughter of Barabas in Marlowe's "The Jew of Malta" and the manipulative Abigail Williams in Miller's "The Crucible." Famous bearers of this name include U.S. First Lady Abigail Adams, Canadian athlete Abigail Hoffman, and British artist Abigail Lane. |
| Source | The Name Book, by Dorothy Astoria |