Abel is a moderately popular boys' name in United States, ranking #220 in 2024 with 1,627 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2015 with 3,244 births ranking #124. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 168.5%. In 2024, approximately 1 in every 1,054 boys born was named Abel. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
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.