Abraham is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "father of many nations" or "exalted father." It is derived from the two Hebrew words "Av," which means father, and "Hamim," which means multitude or nations.
The name Abraham is significant in both Jewish and Christian traditions as it is associated with one of the most important figures in biblical history. According to the Bible, Abraham was a patriarch of the ancient Israelites and is considered the founder of Judaism. He was called by God to leave his native land and follow Him, eventually becoming the father of Isaac, the son promised by God.
In Islamic tradition, Abraham is also revered as a prophet and is considered the father of both Isaac and Ishmael, the latter being the ancestor of the Arab people. Thus, Abraham is an important figure in all three major monotheistic religions.
The name Abraham has been popular throughout history, with many notable figures bearing this name. For example, Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, while Abraham de Moivre was a French mathematician known for his work on probability theory.
Overall, the name Abraham is rich in historical and cultural significance, reflecting its origins in the ancient Near East and its importance to three major world religions.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Abraham has seen a varied pattern of popularity over the past five decades in the United States.
The first recorded birth with the name Abraham was in 1968, with only 5 births that year. However, by 1979, this number had increased to 16 births, indicating a growing popularity for the name during that time period.
From 1980 to 1992, the number of babies named Abraham fluctuated between 8 and 37 births per year, with a notable peak in 1992 with 37 births. This suggests that the name experienced periods of both growth and decline in popularity during these years.
From 1993 to 2005, the number of babies named Abraham remained relatively stable, ranging from 23 to 45 births per year. However, after 2005, there was another increase in popularity, with a peak of 45 births in both 2003 and 2005.
Despite this growth, the popularity of the name Abraham has since declined. Between 2010 and 2023, the number of babies named Abraham ranged from 10 to 37 births per year, with a notable dip to just 10 births in both 2017 and 2020.
In total, over the past five decades, there have been 1,025 recorded births of children named Abraham in the United States. Despite fluctuations in popularity, these statistics show that the name Abraham has maintained a consistent presence among American baby names throughout this time period.