Avishai is a Hebrew male given name that means "my father is my strength." The name originates from the Biblical story of Gideon who receives this message from an angel during his trial of faith. In the story, God sends an angel to speak with Gideon, who initially addresses him as "Sir," but the angel corrects him and says, "Peace be unto you; fear not, for thou shalt not die." Then, the angel tells Gideon that he will have a son named Avishai, which means "my father is my strength."
Throughout history, several prominent figures in Jewish culture have borne this name. For instance, there was Avishai the son of Zeruiah, who was one of David's mighty men and the brother of Joab (1 Chronicles 2:16). There was also Avishai Cohen, an Israeli jazz bass player known for his virtuosic technique and his ability to blend musical styles from around the world.
Overall, Avishai is a name with deep roots in Jewish history and culture, carrying with it a powerful message of strength and divine protection.
The name Avishai has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States, with fluctuations in the number of births each year since 1996. The first recorded birth for this name was in 1996, with only 5 occurrences that year.
Interesting fluctuations followed:
* A notable increase to 7 births occurred in 1998.
* In subsequent years, the numbers fluctuated between a low of 5 births (in 2004) and a high of 9 births (in 2001).
* After 2006, there was a consistent upward trend with some peaks:
+ 13 births in 2005,
+ 11 births in 2008,
+ 16 births in 2017,
+ and a recent high of 20 births in 2022.
Despite these variations, the name Avishai has maintained a consistent presence in the U.S., with a total of 254 births recorded over this period. It will be fascinating to observe if this upward trend continues or stabilizes in the coming years.