Able
Able was the 5046th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 19 babies. Its best year was 1918, when it ranked 2398th; the most babies were born in 2014 (45). Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,182 places. More babies were named Able in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Abel) Origin uncertain · Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #5,046 boys, down 1,475 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 19boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 201445 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,115babies recorded
What does the name Able mean?
Able is a spelling of Abel, pronounced the same way, so it shares Abel's meaning and origin.
Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve in Genesis, killed by his brother Cain. DMNES says the name is traditionally derived from Hebrew hevel, 'breath, vapor; vanity'. Wiktionary and Wikipedia add a second proposal, an Akkadian word ablu, 'son'. DMNES notes that Abel was moderately common in England in the 13th century, fell out of use, and was revived in the late 16th century.
הֶבֶל (Biblical Hebrew, “Hevel, Abel; breath, vapor”)ablu (Akkadian, “son (alternative)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Traditional 'breath, vapor' versus Akkadian 'son'.
Related names: Abell, Habel.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Abel', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Hebrew Bible, Genesis 4:2, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
- Wiktionary, entry 'Abel', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Abel (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Able popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,046 | 19 |
| 2020 | #3,571 | 30 |
| 2010 | #4,367 | 22 |
| 2000 | #4,575 | 16 |
| 1990 | #5,827 | 8 |
| 1980 | #3,256 | 13 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | #2,871 | 9 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | #3,022 | 8 |
| 1920 | #2,459 | 12 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Able, counting every spelling?
Able is a spelling of Abel, a name family that ranked #246 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #5,046 for Able on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,544 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abel | 1,525 | #231 | 8,543 |
| Able | 19 | #5,046 | 115 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Able?
19 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Able (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Able born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 439 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Able.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Able?
About 1,000 people born in the US named Able are alive today, with a median age of 16; half are between 10 and 35. That makes Able mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Able by state
How common Able was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 49 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Able: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Able, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Able
What does Able mean?
The origin of Abel is uncertain: Traditional 'breath, vapor' versus Akkadian 'son'.
How popular is the name Able?
Able was the 5046th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 19 babies. Its best year was 1918, when it ranked 2398th; the most babies were born in 2014 (45). Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,182 places. More babies were named Able in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Able a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Able in the US.
Where is Able most popular?
In 2021–2025, Able was most common in California (0.01 per 1,000 boys), followed by Texas and Texas.