Avner is a unique and distinctive Hebrew male given name that has gained popularity in recent years. Its origin can be traced back to the biblical era when it was borne by several individuals in the Old Testament.
The name Avner is derived from the Hebrew word "av" which means "father." This gives the name a strong, patriarchal connotation. Additionally, the name is associated with the biblical figure Avner ben Ner, who was a commander of Saul's army and a close friend of King David.
Throughout history, the name Avner has been carried by several notable figures in Jewish history. One such example is Avner Yehieli, a prominent Israeli politician who served as the Minister of Tourism from 2009 to 2013.
Today, Avner remains a popular choice among parents seeking a unique and meaningful Hebrew name for their baby boys. It is often associated with strength, wisdom, and leadership due to its patriarchal connotations and historical significance. Overall, Avner is a timeless and powerful name that carries a rich history and deep meaning.
The name Avner has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past century in the United States. The first recorded birth with this name was in 1921, with only six newborns being given this moniker.
There was a significant gap of thirty-two years before the next occurrence of the name Avner, which was in 1955 with five births. This pattern repeated itself over the following decades: five births each year from 1983 to 1994, six births in 1996, and then another five births in 2002.
However, starting from 2003, there was a notable increase in the number of newborns named Avner. This year saw eight births, which was followed by seven in 2005. The next few years showed even greater popularity for this name: fourteen births in 2006, twenty in 2007, and eleven in 2008.
The trend continued to rise and fall throughout the late 2010s, reaching a peak of twenty-seven births in 2015. There was another significant increase starting from 2017, with twenty-two births that year, followed by twenty-three in 2018. Unfortunately, this upward trend did not continue into the following years, with fourteen births each in 2019 and 2020, then fifteen births in 2021, and sixteen births in 2023.
Overall, from 1921 to 2023, there have been a total of 349 babies born in the United States named Avner. Despite fluctuations in popularity over time, it is clear that this name has had a consistent presence in the American population for over a century.