Abel is a distinctive boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #1281 in 1999 with 10 recorded births. This places Abel in the top 33% of ranked UK boys' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Rare. The name reached its all-time peak in 2023 with 345 births ranking #153. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 11.1%. In 1999, approximately 1 in every 30,323 boys born was named Abel. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Abel comes from the Hebrew name Hevel and is usually understood to mean "breath" or "vapour". It is a short, ancient biblical name with a soft sound and a long history of use.
In the Bible, Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve. The name entered wider European use through Jewish and Christian tradition and has remained familiar across many languages.