Abigail, of Hebrew origin, means "my father is joyful." It was popularized by Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams, both U.S. presidents. The name gained further prominence through the character Abigail in Samuel Richardson's 18th-century novel, "Clarissa Harlowe." In popular culture, Abigail Williams from Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" is another notable bearer of this name. Variations include Abby, Abbie, and Gail.
"Abigail was quite popular among parents in 1987 with six newborns sharing this name that year."