UK girl's name
Abigaile
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "source of joy".
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.
Abigaile is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Abigaile popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 8 births.
This profile covers 49 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1997 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 49 living people in the UK are called Abigaile. 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
- • Abigaile ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 8 girls were registered as Abigaile.
- • About 49 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abigaile as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
8 births
Estimated living
49
2026
Meaning
What does Abigaile mean?
The name Abigaile has its origins in the Hebrew language and is derived from the Hebrew name Avigayil, which means "father's joy" or "source of joy." It is a biblical name mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible.
The name first appeared in the Book of Samuel, where Abigail was the wife of Nabal and later married King David. She was known for her wisdom and diplomacy, as she prevented David from carrying out a massacre by appeasing him with gifts and kind words.
In the Middle Ages, the name was popularized in Europe through its use in religious texts and literature. It was particularly popular in England, where it was often spelled as Abigail or Abigale.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Abigaile is from the 13th century, when an Abigaile de Nevill was mentioned in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a survey of landholders in England conducted during the reign of King Edward I.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Abigaile or its variations. Abigail Adams (1744-1818) was the wife of the second President of the United States, John Adams, and a prominent figure in her own right, known for her intelligence and advocacy for women's rights.
Abigail Fillmore (1798-1853) was the wife of the 13th President of the United States, Millard Fillmore, and served as the First Lady from 1850 to 1853. She was known for her charitable work and support for educational institutions.
Abigail Van Buren (1918-2013), whose real name was Pauline Esther Friedman, was an American advice columnist who wrote the "Dear Abby" column for over 50 years, offering advice on a wide range of personal and family matters.
Abigail Williams (1680-1697) was one of the primary accusers in the Salem Witch Trials, which took place in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. Her accusations played a significant role in fueling the hysteria that led to the executions of several individuals accused of witchcraft.
Abigail Washburn (born 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjo player known for her fusion of traditional Appalachian and Chinese folk music styles. She has won several awards and has been recognized for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of folk music.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Abigaile over time
The chart below shows babies named Abigaile registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Abigaile, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Abigaile by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abigaile 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 | #4959 | 19 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4151 | 22 | 6 |
| 1990s | #1958 | 8 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Abigaile
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Abigaile: questions and answers
How popular is the name Abigaile in the UK right now?
In 2019, Abigaile was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Abigaile most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 8 babies registered as Abigaile in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Abigaile?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "source of joy".
How many people are called Abigaile in the UK?
A total of 49 babies have been registered as Abigaile across the 12 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.