Behind the Name
the etymology and history of first names
Login   Register
Search

View Name: Abraham


ABRAHAM
GENDER: Masculine
USAGE: English, Hebrew, Dutch, Biblical, Biblical Latin
OTHER SCRIPTS: אַבְרָהָם (Hebrew)
PRONOUNCED: AY-brÉ™-ham (English), AH-brah-hahm (Dutch)   [key]
Meaning & History
This name may be viewed either as meaning "father of many" in Hebrew or else as a contraction of ABRAM (1) and הָמוֹן (hamon) "many, multitude". The biblical Abraham was originally named Abram but God changed his name (see Genesis 17:5). He led his followers from Ur into Canaan, and is regarded by the Jews as being the founder of the Hebrews through his son Isaac and by the Muslims as being the founder of the Arabs through his son Ishmael.

As an English Christian name, Abraham became common after the Protestant Reformation. A famous bearer was Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the American president during the Civil War.

Related Names
VARIANT: Avraham (Hebrew)
DIMINUTIVES: Abe, Bram (English), Abe (Jewish), Avi (Hebrew), Braam, Bram (Dutch)
OTHER LANGUAGES: Ebrahim, Ibraheem, Ibrahim (Arabic), Abraam (Biblical Greek), Avraham (Biblical Hebrew), Aabraham, Aapo (Finnish), Ebrahim (Iranian), Abram (Russian), İbrahim (Turkish), Ibrahima (Western African)
Popularity
United States  ranked #192 
Netherlands  ranked #346 



Home About | Copyright © | Terms | Contact
Advertising served by SheKnows Family