Abner
Abner was the 874th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 274 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 289th; the most babies were born in 2024 (293). Over the last ten years it has moved up 145 places. More babies were named Abner in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Hebrew
Say it AB-ner /ˈæbnər/
- Rank in 2025
- #874 boys, up 102 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 274boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2024293 babies
- Total since 1880
- 9,454babies recorded
What does the name Abner mean?
Abner is a Hebrew name from the Bible: Abner, son of Ner, was King Saul's cousin and the commander of his army (1 Samuel 14:50). Wiktionary explains it as av, "father", plus a word for light or lamp, so "father of light". The JPS translation notes that the verse spells the name Abiner, which Wikipedia reads as "my father is Ner", after his father's name. Because the sources read it in two ways, no single meaning is given.
אַבְנֵר (Hebrew, “Abner”)אָב (Hebrew, “father”)נֵר (Hebrew, “lamp, candle”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Two readings: 'father of light' (Wiktionary) or 'my father is Ner' (Wikipedia, from the spelling Abiner).
Related names: Avner.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Abner', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'אבנר', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Hebrew Bible, 1 Samuel 14:50, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria
- Wikipedia, 'Abner', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Abner popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #874 | 274 |
| 2020 | #976 | 219 |
| 2010 | #1,143 | 162 |
| 2000 | #1,196 | 113 |
| 1990 | #1,370 | 66 |
| 1980 | #1,496 | 41 |
| 1970 | #1,699 | 26 |
| 1960 | #1,463 | 30 |
| 1950 | #1,340 | 29 |
| 1940 | #1,135 | 34 |
| 1930 | #976 | 48 |
| 1920 | #792 | 71 |
| 1910 | #480 | 33 |
| 1900 | #518 | 21 |
| 1890 | #489 | 15 |
| 1880 | #325 | 27 |
How popular is Abner, counting every spelling?
Abner has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #845 for boys in 2025, against #874 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Abner?
274 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Abner (0.08 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Abner 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 31 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Abner.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Abner?
About 6,600 people born in the US named Abner are alive today, with a median age of 17; half are between 8 and 31. That makes Abner 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.
Abner by state
How common Abner was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Pennsylvania (2.2×), Maryland (2.2×), Alabama (1.6×), Georgia (1.5×). In 21 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 Abner: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Abner, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Abner · Sibling names for Abner
Questions about the name Abner
What does Abner mean?
The origin of Abner is uncertain: two readings: 'father of light' (Wiktionary) or 'my father is Ner' (Wikipedia, from the spelling Abiner).
How popular is the name Abner?
Abner was the 874th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 274 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 289th; the most babies were born in 2024 (293). Over the last ten years it has moved up 145 places. More babies were named Abner in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Abner a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Abner in the US.
Where is Abner most popular?
In 2021–2025, Abner was most common in Pennsylvania (0.31 per 1,000 boys), followed by Maryland and Alabama.