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The short answer
Abel is a masculine name used in English and French. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From the Hebrew name הֶבֶל (Hevel) meaning ‘breath’. In the Old Testament he is the second son of Adam and Eve, murdered out of envy by his brother Cain." It ranked #231 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from the Hebrew name הֶבֶל (Hevel) meaning ‘breath’. In the Old Testament he is the second son of Adam and Eve, murdered out of envy by his brother Cain. The entry lists its usage as English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and others.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Abel ranked #231 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #231 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Abel in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Abel mean?
Abel means "breath", according to Behind the Name.
Is Abel a popular name?
Abel ranked #231 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Abel a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Abel appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Abel — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
