Abraham Name Meaning: Namesakes, Gender & History

What Does Abraham Mean?

Abraham is a biblical name meaning “father of multitudes” or “father of a crowd.” It has roots in the Hebrew “hamon” (many). According to Bible scripture, Abraham received his name from God as an assurance of his promise that Abraham’s offspring would become numerous.​

What Is the Origin of the Name Abraham?

Abraham is an English spelling of the biblical Hebrew name, meaning “father of a crowd.” In the Bible, God bestowed this new moniker upon the Hebrew patriarch originally called Abram (father is high/exalted). Abraham became a beloved Christian name outside the Jewish and Islamic faiths due to the Protestant Reformation, which focused on Bible scripture.

How Popular Is the Name Abraham?

Abraham peaked in 1911 at 124th on the U.S. popularity charts and ranked 218th in 2023. Abraham is also popular outside of the West, as it is the 688th most common name worldwide.

How Do I Pronounce Abraham?

Abraham is pronounced “AY-bruh-HAM” in English and “AV(f)-ruh-HAM” or “AH-brah-HAM” in Hebrew.

Is Abraham a Boy or Girl Name?

Abraham is traditionally a male name.

Variations of Abraham

There are many variant spellings of Abraham worldwide. Discover some of the most common variations of Abraham here:

• Aabraham (Finnish)
• Ábrahám (Hungarian)
• Abramo (Italian)
• Avraham (Hebrew)
• Ebrahim (Persian)
• Ibragim (Kyrgyz/Ossetian)
• Ibraheem (Urdu)
• Ibrahim (Arabic)
• İbrahim (Azerbaijani/Turkish)
• Îbrahîm (Kurdish)
• Ibrahima (West African)
• Ibrohim (Tajik)

Nicknames for Abraham

Already settled on the name Abraham? If you’re concerned about the length, we’ve got you covered. Here is a list of some of the cutest nicknames for Abraham:

• Abe
• Abeo
• Abram
• Avi
• Bram
• Ham
• Ram
• Rami

Similar Names to Abraham

If you’re looking for similar names to Abraham, these picks are similar in tone, origin, and meaning:

• Abram
• Adrian
• Aidan
• Amram
• Avram
• Bram
• Ebrahim
• Ephraim
• Ibrahim
• Ira
• Isaac
• James
• Joshua
• Noah
• Samuel
• Solomon

Middle Names for Abraham

Now that you’ve chosen a first name, you’re probably on the hunt for a second! Many parents agree that long and short middle names pair well with Abraham. Here is a collection of great middle names for Abraham:

• Alexander
• Clark
• Francis
• Gabriel
• Harrison
• Howard
• Isaac
• Isaiah
• Jonathan
• Joseph
• Joshua
• Nathaniel
• Oliver
• Samuel
• Sebastian
• Theodore
• Thomas
• Uriah
• Vincent
• William

Sibling Names for Abraham

Are you searching for the perfect sibling names for Abraham? Whether you’ve been blessed with a boy or girl, we’ve curated some of the best boy, girl, and unisex names to pair with Abe:

For a brother:

• Anand
• Elijah
• Emilio
• Gideon
• Hugo
• Isaac
• Jacob
• Josiah
• Malachi
• Matthew
• Micah
• Nathaniel
• Samuel
• Yusuf
• Zachariah

For a sister:

• Agatha
• Aisha
• Esther
• Hannah
• Leah
• Lila
• Mara
• Miriam
• Naomi
• Rachel
• Rebecca
• Ruth
• Sarah
• Tabitha
• Zara

Gender-neutral sibling names:

• Ari
• Casey
• Eden
• Jesse
• Jordan
• Mika
• Riley
• Shiloh
• Taylor
• Yael

Famous People Named Abraham

Most already know of Abraham from the Bible and the 16th president of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln. But do you know there are tons of other famous namesakes? Here is a list of famous people named Abraham:

• Abraham Berge: Norwegian prime minister.
• Abraham Bloemaert: Dutch painter and printmaker.
• Abraham Fraenkel: German-Israeli mathematician.
• Abraham Goldfaden: Russian-Jewish poet, playwright, and director.
• Abraham Kuyper: Dutch politician.
• Abraham Maslow: American psychologist.
• Abraham Mateo: Spanish singer-songwriter and actor.
• Abraham Rodriguez: American actor.
• Abraham Stoker: Irish author known for the novel “Dracula.”

Abraham in Popular Culture

Being such a traditional choice, it’s no surprise that Abraham shows up a lot in art and media! Here is a brief list detailing instances of Abraham in popular culture:

• Abe Carver: Character from the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.”
• Abraham (Grandpa) Simpson: Character from “The Simpsons” TV show.
• Abraham Kenarban: Character on the TV series “Malcolm in the Middle.”
• Abraham Lincoln: Title character of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” movie.
• Abraham Van Helsing: Character from the novel “Dracula.”

Abraham FAQs

Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the name Abraham:

What Is the Biblical Meaning of Abraham?

The biblical meaning of the name Abraham is “father of a crowd,” denoting God’s promise that Abraham would have countless descendents.

What Is the Literal Meaning of Abraham?

Abraham literally means “father of many” or “father of a multitude” in Hebrew.

Why Did God Change Abraham’s Name?

In the Bible, God changed Abraham’s name from Abram to reaffirm His promise that Abraham’s offspring would multiply and become a great “crowd.”

God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as uncountable as the stars of heaven. Genesis 17:5-6 reads, “Your name will no longer be A’bram; your name will become Abraham, for I will make you a father of many nations. I will make you very, very fruitful and will make you become nations…”

What’s the Difference Between Abram and Abraham?

While Abram means “(my) father is high/exalted,” Abraham means “father of a crowd.” The two names are also spelled and pronounced differently. Abram is pronounced “AY-brum” or “av(f)-RAM.”

How Is Abraham Pronounced in Hebrew?

Abraham is pronounced “AH-brah-HAM” or “AV(f)-ruh-HAM” in Hebrew.