Abigaelle

The name Abigail is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "my father is joyful". Abigail comes from the Hebrew name Avigail and is derived from the Hebrew elements ab, meaning “father,” and g-y-l, meaning “to rejoice.” In the Old Testament, Abigail was the wife of David, said to be beautiful, wise, and prophetic. In the early nineteenth century, Abigail became a term for a maid. Abigail’s maid associations led to a fall from favor. Now, Abigail's back in a big way—it's been among the Top 10 girls' names for several years and one of the most popular girls' names starting with A —favored for its slightly proper vintage charm. One of the most classic Hebrew names for girls, Abigail has been the name of two of our First Ladies—three, if you count the character on The West Wing—and Abby has been the name of a host of television and movie characters—she has been seen on screen in everything from Mad Men to The Lovely Bones. Abigail's biblical roots and her sensible image combined with cute, accessible nickname Abby make her popularity understandable. If you like Abigail but want something fresher, you may consider such other biblical choices as Lydia and Priscilla or names popular in Revolutionary Era America that have been neglected in recent years, such as Susannah and Eliza.