Abel
From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
Every Abel since 1880 — 66,198 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Abel
Abel is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #231 in 2025 with 1,525 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 66,198 American babies have been named Abel. Its peak came in 2015, when 3,255 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Abel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Abel year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #14,959 | 1,525 | #231 |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,130 | 1,635 | #220 |
| 2023 | 5 | #15,204 | 1,658 | #220 |
| 2022 | 7 | #12,251 | 1,769 | #215 |
| 2021 | 12 | #8,465 | 1,956 | #195 |
| 2020 | — | — | 2,131 | #181 |
| 2019 | — | — | 2,469 | #158 |
| 2018 | 11 | #9,154 | 2,682 | #146 |
| 2017 | — | — | 2,714 | #145 |
| 2016 | 6 | #14,341 | 3,045 | #137 |
| 2015 | 10 | #10,153 | 3,245 | #124 |
| 2014 | — | — | 2,573 | #164 |
| 2013 | 7 | #13,162 | 2,238 | #180 |
| 2012 | — | — | 1,952 | #192 |
| 2011 | 8 | #12,168 | 1,508 | #238 |
| 2010 | — | — | 1,128 | #293 |
| 2009 | 5 | #17,311 | 964 | #330 |
| 2008 | — | — | 864 | #361 |
| 2007 | — | — | 940 | #343 |
| 2006 | — | — | 924 | #338 |
| 2005 | — | — | 855 | #347 |
| 2004 | 6 | #14,190 | 791 | #356 |
| 2003 | 5 | #15,800 | 755 | #360 |
| 2002 | — | — | 775 | #353 |
| 2001 | — | — | 733 | #362 |
| 2000 | — | — | 763 | #352 |
| 1995 | — | — | 717 | #340 |
| 1990 | 7 | #10,194 | 606 | #382 |
| 1985 | — | — | 462 | #387 |
| 1980 | 5 | #10,393 | 474 | #366 |
| 1975 | 5 | #9,068 | 382 | #396 |
| 1970 | — | — | 283 | #480 |
| 1965 | — | — | 283 | #462 |
| 1960 | — | — | 247 | #505 |
| 1955 | — | — | 215 | #504 |
| 1950 | — | — | 170 | #514 |
| 1945 | — | — | 113 | #567 |
| 1940 | — | — | 101 | #589 |
| 1935 | — | — | 92 | #605 |
| 1930 | — | — | 122 | #540 |
| 1925 | — | — | 83 | #710 |
| 1920 | — | — | 79 | #732 |
| 1915 | — | — | 64 | #750 |
| 1910 | — | — | 11 | #981 |
| 1905 | — | — | 6 | #1,091 |
| 1900 | — | — | 15 | #649 |
| 1895 | — | — | 6 | #978 |
| 1890 | — | — | 14 | #511 |
| 1885 | — | — | 6 | #837 |
| 1880 | — | — | 9 | #640 |
Famous people named Abel
- Abel Tasman Explorer · 1603–1659
- Abel, King of Denmark Politician · 1218–1252
- Abel Gance Film director · 1889–1981
- Abel Ferrara Film director · b. 1951
- Abel Pacheco Politician · b. 1933
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Abel mean?
From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the homonymous word הֶבֶל (heḇel, “breath, vapor; vanity”) or from…
How popular is the name Abel in 2025?
Abel ranked #231 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,525 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Abel?
66,198 babies have been named Abel in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Abel most popular?
Abel peaked in 2015, when 3,255 newborns received the name.
Is Abel a boy or girl name?
Abel is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Abel rising or falling?
Abel is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Abel?
Well-known people named Abel include Abel Tasman (explorer), Abel, King of Denmark (politician), Abel Gance (film director).