Comments for ABIGAIL:

The wife of John Adams, and the mother of Louisa May Alcott were named Abigail.
In Charles Dickens's Our Mutual Friend, the innkeeper is also named Abigail, so it has become assosciated with the word "servant".

-- Anonymous User  1/13/2005

I'm not sure why Abigail is listed as being used in Germany. I spent the first 35 years of my life in Germany and have NEVER come across that name.

-- f95kai  3/3/2005

Maybe 'Abigail' was used in Germany a lot a long time ago.

-- Anonymous User  5/20/2005

Although some sites list the meaning as "father of joy" (which seems odd for a commonly female name), others also list "father's joy" or "joy of the father".

-- Anonymous User  6/17/2005

Abigail is the name of a doctor in "E.R.": Abigail "Abby" Lockhart. This is one of my favorite names for a girl (this is the name of my daughter).

-- Anonymous User  7/20/2005

I have always understood this name to mean 'housekeeper' or 'maid/servant'. 'Abi' is the name of a black maid-of-all-work in Emma Donoghue's historical novel 'Slammerkin', and Abigail Williams is the principal character in Arthur Miller's play 'The Crucible'.

-- Arrows  11/22/2005

This is not the meaning, but rather the connotation it took on as the result of 17th century literature.

-- Anonymous User  6/3/2007

Upon my first pregnancy, searching for names of baby girls and boys, I looked and looked in all of the books, I said to my husband what if it's a girl? What name do you like? He as usual, had NO clue. When the baby was born to be a girl, when asked by our doctor what her name was to be, out popped the name Abigail, just out of the blue, it was not one that I had even considered, but funny enough, in my hubby's infinite wisdom, he had said, oh call her the first name in the book - when we got home from the hospital, I eagerly grabbed the baby book to see what the meaning of the name was, and surely enough, it was the FIRST name under A, in the girl's section of that particular book. She fits the name perfectly, and now that she's a teen, she has shortened it to just "Abi".

-- theoldboot65  11/25/2005

I find Abigail a very nice name, though it has become slightly too common, proving that it is truly a good name.

-- TriwizardChamp3  12/12/2005

I have understood that the meaning of "father of joy" could be "source of joy."

-- breakofday  1/2/2006

I simply adore this name. If I have a second daughter I will name her Abigail Camryn. It's such a sweet name!

-- bedrock  2/18/2006

I strongly dislike the name Abigail, I think it's because of the gail.

-- Anonymous User  3/7/2006

Abigail Breslin is the sweet little actress who played Bo Hess in the movie "Signs."

-- breakofday  3/10/2006

If you're thinking of a good name for a baby girl, this is a great one. It's my name, and although it has become very popular with the 4-7 age range, it still seems unique.

-- Anonymous User  4/7/2006

I like the name Abigail. It is a name you can grow up with using Abby while young and Abigail once older.

-- Anonymous User  4/25/2006

I read somewhere that it meant "source of joy".

-- Anonymous User  5/19/2006

Abigail is the daughter of the title character in Christopher Marlowe's "The Jew of Malta". In the beginning she helps her father in his intrigues but when she finds out about his involvement in her lover's death she converts to Christianity and enters a nunnery to atone for her sins (although her character is rather positive in this biting play, this act is probably ironic as Marlowe depicts the clergy as being extremely hypocritical).

-- mcqueen  7/8/2006

This is a beautiful name and I've considered naming my child Abigail.

-- Anonymous User  7/17/2006

I do not like the name Abigail. All its abbreviations sound common and it has no flair. "Gail" makes me think of a windy storm - not a nice connotation for a girl's name.

-- Anonymous User  8/9/2006

I love the name Abigail, it sounds so wonderful, and I didn't think it was too popular. And then I went on here and looked at the polls and it turns out 1,000,000 other people adore the name as well. Darn.

-- CkLmJ_CrAzY  8/17/2006

I think it is a graceful name and very pretty. Too bad the Abigail I know is a snob. Oh well I still like it a lot.

-- coffe  8/20/2006

Abigail was a very popular name in the eighteenth century, and given the population structure of the time, most Abigails grew up to be servants. So, instead of saying "my maid" does whatever, people would say "my Abigail". From this, it actually became a synonym for "maidservant", which led to its descent into disuse.

And now it's back on the charts, without any negative connotations because there are so few domestic workers nowadays.

-- Anneza  10/25/2006

I think Abigail is such a wonderful name. It is definitely in my top ten. The only thing that concerns me with this name is that it is so common. Maybe if the spelling was changed up a bit it would be more unique. For example: Abigale, Abigael, Abagiel, Abbigal. I think people who are named Abigail probably have the tendencies to be either really snobby and blunt or really free spirited and thoughtful.

-- Cyneburga  10/25/2006

I can't really believe Abigail is used in Germany. I've never heard it, and most people wouldn't be able to pronounce it.

-- swisssugar  10/29/2006

This is my sister's name and she HATES it, she gets so mad when people call her Abigail it's scary. She's been this way about the name since she was 3 and is now 24 she has been simply Abby for a very long while.

-- stuckonstupid  11/11/2006

I think this name is pretty, and cute, and I love it paired with Belle for the middle name. I think the nickname Abby is cute too.

-- xHOWTOSAVEALiFE  11/27/2006

I don't like the name because of the 'Abi'.

-- Anonymous User  1/1/2007

I really hate this name! It's really UGLY! Madison, many people think it's ugly but it's way better than ugly Abby.

-- Anonymous User  1/2/2007

Ok, I've been waiting to do this one. This is my name and I have never liked it or felt comfortable with it. My mother said that she tried to pick names that nothing rhymes with and while nothing DOES rhyme with Shelby or Andrew (my siblings) I got stuck with "Abigail the whale" or "sperm whale". "Abi-snail", "Abi-whale", "Abi-quail". Lame I know, but kids can be cruel. I do NOT think my name sounds "sophisticated". I prefer Abby which is what I go by. "Crabby, shabby, flabby" Abby. Good job mom! :) Why is this name becoming so popular? Guess I'll never know.

-- apikaila  1/21/2007

I think Abigail is a beautiful name.

-- melinda1  1/25/2007

I really don't like this name and can't see why it's becoming popular again.

-- lemmingade  2/6/2007

Actually the meaning of the name is "the father of joy" and not "my father is joy" as written here.

-- GalGr  2/14/2007

Abigail is a very sweet and soft name. I like it a lot. :)

-- Jasmine  3/5/2007

I know this name is very popular, but I don't like that it can mean "maidservant". Not a name I'd bestow on a daughter! It also has a haughty, snobby feel to it, for some reason. I like "Abby" on its own though.

-- Anonymous User  3/6/2007

I really like this name spelled Abigale.

-- elysa  3/15/2007

My name is Abigail, and I find that I'm called Abi most of the time, which I prefer to my full name. Abigail feels too formal or upperclass to me, but I still like it because I have never in my life met another Abigail, plenty of Abis but never an Abigail. I like having an unusual name, and despite liking being called Abi, I get too many people comparing to the bank. Despite this I would never permenantly shorten my name to Abi, I feel proud to have this name.

-- Anonymous User  4/4/2007

In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Abigail Williams is a seventeen year old girl who, scorned by a married man with whom she has fallen in love, seeks to kill his wife and ultimately starts the Salem witch hunt.

-- VictoriaCalledTori  5/2/2007

I think this name is very pretty and nice. All the Abigails I've met were very nice. The meaning is also pretty: "My father is joy". I think the nickname Abby is cute.

-- CharlieRob  5/5/2007

A sweet, classic name. If you're going to use a really popular name, it's better, I think, to pick a traditional one that happens to be popular than something new and trendy that someone created, because names like Abigail are timeless.

-- Anonymous User  5/27/2007

Cute name, which unfortunately, is becoming popular.

-- spaz123  7/17/2007

Our daughter's name is Abigail Nicole. WE love her name. She goes by her full name, not Abby. People comment on what a beautiful name "Abigail" truly is. We love the meaning too!

-- stlcowgirl  7/23/2007

I like this name. I'm surprised it's so popular, considering American's poor taste in names (Madison, Tiffany, Crystal, etc.) It is a bit old fashioned and WASPy though, but perhaps we need more of that today.

-- johann14  9/24/2007

I really dislike this name simply because I think it's one of the ugliest sounding names I've ever heard. I don't understand why it's so popular right now. On the other hand, it is an old name with a history and tradition. And I do like its eighteenth century flavor. Therefore I won't completely dump on it as I would names such as Madison or Kayla.

-- queenv  9/27/2007

Abigail Adams was a famous bearer as far as I am concerned.

-- Anonymous User  10/21/2007

Abigail Fillmore was a famous bearer too.

-- Anonymous User  10/21/2007

I despise the nickname 'Abbie', though Abigail is nice. Not a name I would choose, though. It sounds too intrincate and there's something in it I always disliked. Decent name, anyhow.

-- Anonymous User  11/15/2007

I absolutely love the name Abigail, because it's not so common anymore.

-- Fluffy_Thewerewolf.  11/27/2007

I like the name Abigail, I think it's really pretty. I don't really like the nickname "Abby" though. I think it sounds ugly, no offense to anyone.

-- scarletquillraven  1/23/2008

Prefer the names Abbie, Abbye, Abbi, Abi and Abby to the actual longer form of them. Abigail is alright, but if I had to name my daughter this I would spell it Abbigail, with two bs.

-- Patricia Underwood  2/17/2008

I think Abigail is a very beautiful name.

-- Angel Lynn  3/24/2008

I am just glad that Abby (and sound-alikes) are more popular nicknames than Gail these days. I can't stand the name Gail and it has tainted my feeling about Abigail.

-- Anonymous User  4/3/2008

I'm not too fond of this name. It doesn't have a nice flow- I think the letters b and g are fairly harsh and jarring, and I've actually found it to be a bit difficult to say- and I'm not really fond of 'Abby' as a nickname, either, just because it's rather plain.

-- Maro  4/23/2008

Abigail is derived from the hyphenation of the word "Abba" (father) and "Gail" which is an action word denoting (perpetual swirling in the sense of springing forth, like a fountain). The word "Joy" is interconnected with "Gail" in that "Joy" wells up (springs forth) from the emotions in the belly, to burst forth with radiance on the face and an audible strong Wind of happiness expressed as it passes the vocal cords.

-- Anonymous User  5/13/2008

Pretty. I know tons of little girls called Abigail.

-- cheeseface  5/17/2008

Ok I can understand why it's coming back. Because it's cute! I don't know why whoever said it's ugly! I personally love this name and put it in my top 5! So there! And I agree that you should call her Abby and when she grows up call her Abigail.

-- Anonymous User  6/6/2008

Even though it is a very popular name, I don't know anybody with that name. I think it is such a lovely and down-to-earth name.

-- mary26  7/19/2008

I personally adore Abigail, nickname Abby, and it is currently #3 on my girls' list. I've known several Abigails personally (all have been Abby), as well as several Abbies.

Abigail is the name of semi-main character on NCIS, but she goes exclusively by Abby.

-- Corae  8/8/2008

A beautiful name given to my 2nd child, by my father. It totally fits her bold and beautiful character. The meaning behind her name fits her personality.

-- amaabi7  8/17/2008

Mary Abigail Wambach, footballer, born 2nd June, 1980 in Rochester, New York.

-- Emilie007  9/3/2008

This is my name, only it's spelled Abigael. My name is Abigael and I absolutely hate that some people are calling it ugly. What the heck is wrong with it? Anyway, I used to hate my name but now I love it. My mother, Sandra, actually found it in a phone book. We spelled it the way we do because mom and dad, Luis, call it the "Spanish" spelling 'cause I'm Puerto Rican. Dad was especially ecstatic when he found out the meaning. I consider my name special, because I have only ever known one other Abigail.

-- Anonymous User  9/12/2008

However beautiful this name is (and it is extremely classy and lovely) I personally could never use. A very good friend of mine with this name perished last year in a fire. I can't hear the name without automatically having a flashback to that terrible day and the funeral.

-- Anonymous User  11/2/2008

Oh dear God, every time I see this name, I want to gauge my eyes out! It is so revolting that I swear, I become a little bit more blind every time I look at it.

-- GunsnRoses8794  11/27/2008

Again you had been mistaken in translating the name. In the bible you cannot read anything about that name's meaning, so it is not that important what the meaning of the name is, just who the first with this name was.
The first Avigail that we can read about in the bible is the wife of David that had been taken from Naval from The Carmel (a place in Israel), who was her first husband.
Another one is: Avigal (it's the same name). She is the daughter of NaHash (Samuel 2, 17, 25).
And about the meaning: Avi gil = the father of joy OR my father is joy. But the name is written AvigAIl. So your translation is wrong.

-- talramati  12/23/2008

This is a Polish version, too.

-- Anonymous User  1/5/2009

I'm simply can't understand why so many people think this names sounds lovely and elegant. I think the "gail" and "ab" sounds are very harsh and jarring. I realize this name has an historical appeal, but there are other names with historical appeal that sound much prettier like Elizabeth and Mary. If you like Abigail then popularity doesn't bother you and why not Elizabeth or Mary? Mary is actually more original than Abigail now.

-- afmastro  1/18/2009

Abigail. I have never liked this name. The 'Gail' part of it turns my stomach and the nickname that would most likely be used, 'Abby', is really a turn off. I hate the way it looks and sounds. I don't understand why people think its such a great name for a little girl! Pick Elizabeth or Alice instead if you want that "classic" name feel.

-- D.Scott  1/30/2009

Abigail is such an adorable name!

-- Anonymous User  2/13/2009

I really love the name Abigail- but not the nickname Abby, or Abi, or whatever. Abigail sounds beautiful and it makes me think of a classy, thoughtful woman. I'm sure Abigail Adams is the source of that association. But the nickname Abi makes me think of tabby, like a cat. Not as polished.

-- emily  3/20/2009

I think it's a beautiful name.

-- ningyorose  3/29/2009

Sounds more like a first name and last name squashed together. The meaning is sweet, though. I'm sort of neutral about it.

-- Anonymous User  4/3/2009

I've heard it being pronounced "Abi-gaal", like the a in all, here in Sweden.

-- Madvis  4/16/2009

I have never heard this name in Germany but I have read that it has been in use occasionally since the 16th century. To modern Germans Ah-bee-giel (though phonetically correct) sounds very strange for a certain reason: The last syllable (giel) would sound like the German word for "horny"! The name might be used as an English import but people would (at least try to) pronounce it the English way.

-- JHK  6/1/2009

It's interesting, somewhat strong, yet very revolting. Much less boring than Aby alone, at least. But, again, it doesn't sound appealing at all. There can also be words like ail taken out of it, so it will mean "a big pain". The name isn't really special in any way, and I don't see why it's so popular.

-- Kerules  6/14/2009

Someone wrote here that this is a Polish version. Well, I'm Polish and I haven't heard anything this stupid in years. There is no Polish version of name Abigail. End of story.

-- Mania  6/30/2009

Love the meaning, fave combo is Abigail Rose.

-- Ranchie  11/2/2009

I'm so glad my parents didn't name me this, just stuck with Abbie instead. Much nicer.

-- Anonymous User  11/11/2009

Comments for ABIGAÍL:

Read Ah-bee-gah-eel.

-- JackieJack  8/6/2008

Means "alegrķa del padre" or "joy of the father".

-- Elianita  12/15/2008

Pronounced Ah-BEE-gah-eel.

-- Elianita  12/15/2008

Key: Meaning/History Usage Pronunciation Famous Bearer Personal Impression Other

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