Meaning & History
Abigail is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the Hebrew name ʾAviḡayil (אֲבִיגָיִל), which combines the elements ʾav meaning "father" and gil meaning "joy", thus translating to "my father is joy" or "source of joy". In the Old Testament, Abigail is the wife of Nabal, a wealthy but harsh man, and after his death she becomes the third wife of King David (1 Samuel 25). She is praised for her intelligence, beauty, and diplomatic skill in preventing David from taking vengeance on Nabal. Her son with David is named Daniel (or Chileab in some texts).
Etymology
The name Abigail is composed of the Hebrew roots ʾav (father) and gil (joy), with the suffix -i indicating "my". The meaning is thus "my father is joy" or "father of joy". The name appears in the Hebrew Bible as ʾAviḡayil, and in the Septuagint it is rendered as Abigaia. The Latin Vulgate uses Abigail, which became the standard form in English Bibles.
Historical Usage
As an English name, Abigail first became common after the Protestant Reformation, particularly among the Puritans, who favored biblical names. However, in the 17th century, the name acquired a slang meaning of "servant" or "maid", partly due to the character Abigail in the play The Scornful Lady (1616) and because the biblical Abigail referred to herself as a servant (1 Samuel 25:41). This association caused the name to fall out of fashion. It was revived in the 20th century and has since become popular again.
Notable Bearers
Notable women named Abigail include Abigail Adams (1744–1818), wife of U.S. President John Adams and an influential First Lady; Abigail Fillmore (1798–1853), wife of President Millard Fillmore; and Abigail Breslin (born 1996), American actress. In literature, Abigail Williams is a key antagonist in Arthur Miller's play The Crucible.
Variants and Diminutives
Variants of Abigail include Abbigail, Abigale, Abigayle, and Abegail. Common diminutives are 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), Apikalia (Hawaiian), and Avigail (Modern Hebrew).
- Meaning: "my father is joy"
- Origin: Hebrew
- Type: First name
- Usage: English, English Bible, Latin Bible
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Abigail