Meaning & History
Abegail is a variant spelling of the name Abigail, a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. The name Abigail derives from the Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (ʾAviḡayil), meaning "my father is joy" or "my father is exulted," composed of the elements אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and גִּיל (gil) meaning "joy." In the Old Testament, Abigail is the intelligent and beautiful wife of Nabal, who after his death becomes the third wife of King David (1 Samuel 25). The name was adopted by English speakers after the Protestant Reformation and was particularly popular among Puritans. However, due to a 1616 play The Scornful Lady featuring a servant named Abigail, the name became a slang term for a maid and fell out of fashion until its revival in the 20th century.
Variants and Diminutives
Abegail is one of several variant spellings of Abigail, including Abbigail, Abigale, and Abigayle. Common diminutives and short forms include Abbey, Abbi, Abbie, Abby, Abi, and Gail. In other languages, the name appears as Abigaïl (Biblical French), Abigaia (Biblical Greek), 'Avigayil (Biblical Hebrew), Abigaëlle (French), and Apikalia (Hawaiian).
Notable Bearers
While the name Abegail itself is less common, the root name Abigail has been borne by many notable individuals, including Abigail Adams, wife of U.S. President John Adams, and Abigail Breslin, an American actress. The biblical Abigail is also the mother of Amasa, commander of Absalom's army (2 Samuel 17:25).
- Meaning: "my father is joy"
- Origin: Hebrew
- Type: Variant of Abigail
- Usage: English
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Abigail (name)