Abigail is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the words "ab" meaning "father" and "gil" meaning "happiness or joy". Therefore, the name Abigail means "my father is my happiness" or "my father rejoices in me".
The name Abigail is found in the Bible, where she is introduced as one of King David's wives. She was known for her intelligence and wit, and played a significant role in helping her husband escape from his enemy Absalom.
Throughout history, the name Abigail has been used by many notable figures. For instance, Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, the second President of the United States, and she herself was a political activist and writer. Additionally, Abigail Fillmore was the First Lady of the United States during her husband Millard Fillmore's presidency.
The name Abigail has also been popular in literature and arts. Charlotte Brontë used it for one of the characters in her novel "Jane Eyre", while the character Abby Normal from the Mel Brooks film "Young Frankenstein" is named after this name.
In recent years, the name Abigail has gained popularity as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. It has consistently ranked among the top 1000 most popular girl names in these countries.
The name Abigel has seen a consistent presence in the United States over the past two decades, with at least five babies being given this name each year between 2002 and 2012, except for 2007 where it dipped to just four births. However, there was a slight increase in popularity in 2014, with six girls named Abigel born that year. Overall, the total number of babies named Abigel in the United States from 2002 to 2014 is 31, indicating that while not extremely common, this name has maintained a steady presence over time.