Is Abner a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Abner is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Abner?

It’s currently ranked #641 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

Abner Boy

Popularity: #641 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationAB-nur / /ˈæb.nər/

Hebrew; English

Meaning

Hebrew: 'father of light'; English: 'noble'

Historical & Cultural Background

Abner is a name of Hebrew origin, commonly associated with the biblical figure Abner, who was a cousin of King Saul and a commander in his army. The name has been used in various cultures, particularly in English-speaking countries, since the 19th century. It has seen periods of popularity, often linked to its biblical roots and historical significance.

Trend Summary

Abner has experienced fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable decline in usage since the early 20th century.

Variants

International Variants

Abner (Spanish)
Abner (Portuguese)

Famous people named Abner

Abner Doubleday was a Union general during the American Civil War, often credited with inventing baseball.

Abner Haynes was a professional American football player known for his contributions to the sport in the 1960s.

Abner Mikva was a prominent American politician and judge who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Abner J. Mikva was a notable American lawyer and political figure, recognized for his work in public service.

Fictional characters named Abner

Abner Krill is a character in the DC Comics universe, known as the villain 'The Thinker'.

Abner Beech is a character in the novel 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' by Mark Twain, depicted as a local farmer.

Sibling Suggestions

Abigail Aaron Amos Asher Alden Adriel

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Abner was first seen in the United States in 1880. Abner has ranked as high as #1067 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida. In the past 5 years the name Abner has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Abner (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	40	17%
CA	37	16%
FL	26	11%
NY	18	8%
PA	13	6%
GA	11	5%
VA	10	4%
SC	9	4%
IN	8	3%
MD	8	3%
LA	7	3%
TN	7	3%
NC	7	3%
AL	6	3%
MO	6	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	27
1881	30
1882	32
1883	27
1884	33
1885	32
1886	18
1887	18
1888	25
1889	22
1890	15
1891	19
1892	28
1893	21
1894	23
1895	16
1896	17
1897	29
1898	21
1899	18
1900	21
1901	25
1902	21
1903	20
1904	19
1905	27
1906	22
1907	16
1908	21
1909	23
1910	33
1911	15
1912	45
1913	67
1914	83
1915	94
1916	88
1917	84
1918	85
1919	89
1920	71
1921	90
1922	80
1923	83
1924	75
1925	67
1926	56
1927	54
1928	58
1929	57
1930	48
1931	46
1932	49
1933	46
1934	38
1935	37
1936	33
1937	39
1938	49
1939	34
1940	34
1941	38
1942	35
1943	36
1944	25
1945	31
1946	31
1947	33
1948	33
1949	32
1950	29
1951	32
1952	25
1953	29
1954	19
1955	27
1956	24
1957	33
1958	22
1959	26
1960	30
1961	33
1962	35
1963	33
1964	21
1965	35
1966	37
1967	22
1968	35
1969	24
1970	26
1971	28
1972	24
1973	26
1974	24
1975	25
1976	33
1977	22
1978	35
1979	33
1980	41
1981	50
1982	39
1983	42
1984	43
1985	31
1986	45
1987	46
1988	62
1989	55
1990	66
1991	63
1992	66
1993	65
1994	62
1995	86
1996	88
1997	69
1998	68
1999	94
2000	113
2001	106
2002	115
2003	116
2004	133
2005	132
2006	156
2007	173
2008	149
2009	150
2010	162
2011	166
2012	157
2013	195
2014	202
2015	199
2016	200
2017	195
2018	203
2019	182
2020	219
2021	215
2022	191
2023	221
2024	293