Avigail Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AV-ih-gail /ˈævɪˌɡeɪl/
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Father's joy
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Avigail has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the elements "avi," meaning "my father," and "gil," meaning "joy" or "rejoicing." The name can be translated to mean "my father is joy" or "father's joy." It appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of a significant figure, Abigail, who was the wife of King David. The biblical Abigail is noted for her intelligence and beauty, and her story is found in the First Book of Samuel, which dates back to the 11th century BCE.
In this narrative, she plays a crucial role in preventing David from taking vengeance against her foolish husband, Nabal, showcasing her diplomatic skills and wisdom. The name Avigail, as a variant of Abigail, has been used throughout Jewish history and has been carried into various cultures through translations and adaptations.
The Greek version of the name is "Abigail," which was later adopted into Latin and subsequently made its way into Old French. The name entered the English language through the influence of the King James Bible, published in 1611, which helped to popularize biblical names in English-speaking regions.
The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its strong biblical roots and the positive attributes associated with its namesake. Culturally, Avigail and its variants have been embraced in various Jewish traditions, often symbolizing wisdom, joy, and familial love.
The name has been used in literature and art, reinforcing its significance across different eras. The diminutive form "Abby" has also emerged as a common affectionate variant, though it is more contemporary in usage.
Overall, Avigail's historical and cultural resonance stems from its biblical origins and the values embodied by its early bearers.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Avigail, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Avigail. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Avigail was first seen in the United States in 1968.
Avigail has ranked as high as #3213 nationally, which occurred in 2016, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Avigail has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Avigail is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Avigail was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Avigail.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 88 | 88 |
| 2024 | 72 | 72 |
| 2023 | 71 | 71 |
| 2022 | 69 | 69 |
| 2021 | 81 | 81 |
| 2020 | 94 | 94 |
| 2019 | 73 | 73 |
| 2018 | 83 | 83 |
| 2017 | 108 | 108 |
| 2016 | 116 | 116 |
| 2015 | 100 | 100 |
| 2014 | 85 | 85 |
| 2013 | 91 | 91 |
| 2012 | 55 | 55 |
| 2011 | 64 | 64 |
| 2010 | 66 | 66 |
| 2009 | 85 | 85 |
| 2008 | 57 | 57 |
| 2007 | 79 | 79 |
| 2006 | 69 | 69 |
| 2005 | 56 | 56 |
| 2004 | 50 | 50 |
| 2003 | 47 | 47 |
| 2002 | 45 | 45 |
| 2001 | 45 | 45 |
| 2000 | 48 | 48 |
| 1999 | 32 | 32 |
| 1998 | 36 | 36 |
| 1997 | 20 | 20 |
| 1996 | 33 | 33 |
| 1995 | 21 | 21 |
| 1994 | 30 | 30 |
| 1993 | 25 | 25 |
| 1992 | 13 | 13 |
| 1991 | 22 | 22 |
| 1990 | 10 | 10 |
| 1989 | 11 | 11 |
| 1988 | 7 | 7 |
| 1987 | 7 | 7 |
| 1986 | 12 | 12 |
| 1983 | 8 | 8 |
| 1982 | 5 | 5 |
| 1981 | 6 | 6 |
| 1977 | 6 | 6 |
| 1974 | 5 | 5 |
| 1973 | 6 | 6 |
| 1968 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Avigail (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 19 | |
| NJ | 7 | |
| FL | 6 |