Abel is a Hebrew masculine given name that means "breath" or "vapor." It has a significant historical and biblical association as it is the name of the second son of Adam and Eve in the Old Testament, who was murdered by his brother Cain out of jealousy.
The name Abel originates from the Hebrew word "hevel," which translates to breath or vapor. In the Bible, Abel was a shepherd and offered some of the firstlings of his flock and their fat unto God, while Cain, a farmer, brought an offering of the fruits of the ground (Genesis 4:2-4). When God had more regard for Abel's sacrifice than Cain's, Cain became jealous and killed his brother. This story is often interpreted as representing the struggle between good and evil.
Despite its biblical association with tragic events, the name Abel has been used throughout history by various cultures and has gained popularity in recent years. It was the 54th most popular boys' name in France in 2018 and has also seen increased usage in other countries such as Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.
In literature and art, the name Abel has appeared in several notable works. In Marcel Proust's novel "À la recherche du temps perdu," the character Charles Swann is sometimes called "Abel" by his lover Odette. In Mark Twain's short story "The Facts Concerning the Recent Carnival of Crime in Connectic
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Abel in the United States from 1975 to 2023. Over this period, there were a total of 148 babies named Abel.
The highest year for babies named Abel was in 2021, with 12 births. This is followed by 2018 with 11 births and 2015 with 10 births. The years with the lowest number of births were 1975, 1986, 1987, and 1988, each with only 5 births.
It's interesting to note that there was a significant increase in the popularity of the name Abel starting from around 2013. Before this year, the number of births did not exceed 7 per year. However, between 2013 and 2023, the number of births varied between 5 and 12 each year.
Overall, these statistics provide a snapshot of the popularity of the name Abel in the United States over nearly five decades.