The first name Abe
A boy’s name from Hebrew.
Pronounced /eɪb/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
A shortening from Abraham. In the slang sense for money, refers to the picture of Abraham Lincoln on the currency.
Abe is a short form of
.From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 4 boys were named Abe, making it the 4,275th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2017, with 13 births (#1,812).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Abe with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Abe at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 64 boys born in the United States were named Abe, the 2,207th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1917, when 280 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Abe
13 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Abe VigodaAmerican actor (1921–2016)
- Abe LenstraDutch footballer (1920-1985)
- Abe WiersmaDutch rower, born 1994
- Abe CunninghamAmerican drummer, born 1973
- Abe SapersteinAmerican sports executive and basketball coach, 1902–1966
- Abe Laboriel, Jr.American drummer, born 1971
- Abe WaddingtonCricket player of England. (1893-1959)
- Abe AttellAmerican boxer, 1883–1970
- Abe BurrowsAmerican dramatist and playwright (1910-1985)
- Abe GubegnaEthiopian writer (1934–1980)
- Abe SilversteinAmerican aerospace engineer, 1908–2001
- Abe McGregor GoffAmerican politician and civil servant (1899-1984)
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Abe mean?
- A shortening from Abraham. In the slang sense for money, refers to the picture of Abraham Lincoln on the currency.
- What is the origin of the name Abe?
- A shortening from Abraham. In the slang sense for money, refers to the picture of Abraham Lincoln on the currency.
- How popular is the name Abe?
- In 2025, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Abe, ranking 4,275th. Its peak was 2017, with 13 births.
- Is Abe a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 9,694 US babies named Abe since 1880 were boys.
- When was Abe most popular?
- 1917 in the United States, when 280 babies were named Abe, its highest rank at 324th.
- How do you pronounce Abe?
- Abe is /eɪb/, one syllable.
- Is Abe also a surname?
- Yes. Abe is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.