UK boy's name
Abba
Father, a term of endearment in Aramaic.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Abba is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Abba popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2013 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Abba. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Abba ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 3 boys were registered as Abba.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abba as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4702
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Abba mean?
The given name Abba has its origins in the Aramaic language, which was widely spoken in ancient Mesopotamia and the Levant. The name is derived from the Aramaic word "abba," meaning "father." It was a term of endearment used by children to address their fathers.
In the Bible, the word "Abba" is used in reference to God as a father figure. It appears in several passages, such as Mark 14:36, where Jesus addresses God as "Abba, Father." This usage reflects the intimate and personal relationship between God and his followers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abba is in the Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism. The Talmud mentions several rabbis with the name Abba, including Abba Arika (175-247 CE), also known as Rav, who was a prominent Babylonian scholar and leader.
In early Christianity, the name Abba was used by some notable figures. Abba Poemen (340-450 CE) was an influential Desert Father and ascetic monk in Egypt. Abba Moses the Black (330-405 CE) was another Desert Father who was revered for his wisdom and spiritual guidance.
During the Byzantine era, the name Abba was relatively common among Eastern Orthodox Christians. Abba Philemon (609-619 CE) was a notable Patriarch of Constantinople, and Abba Isidore (c. 700 CE) was a well-known theologian and scholar from Alexandria.
In the Middle Ages, the name Abba appeared in various European contexts. Abba Odonis (1060-1109 CE) was a Benedictine abbot and saint from England. Abba Radbertus (c. 790-860 CE) was a Frankish theologian and author who wrote extensively on the Eucharist.
While not as widely used in more recent centuries, the name Abba has continued to be given to individuals in various cultures and religious traditions. Abba Eban (1915-2002) was an Israeli diplomat and politician who served as the Foreign Minister of Israel from 1966 to 1974.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Abba over time
The chart below shows babies named Abba registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Abba, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Abba by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abba was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4694 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Abba
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Abba: questions and answers
How popular is the name Abba in the UK right now?
In 2019, Abba was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Abba most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 3 babies registered as Abba in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Abba?
Father, a term of endearment in Aramaic.
How many people are called Abba in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Abba across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.