Given name & surname
Able
“the life force; breath”
Able is a variant of Abel. One Hebrew interpretation is “the life force; breath.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Able is a variant of Abel. One Hebrew interpretation is “the life force; breath.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Able is a variant of Abel. An origin associated with Abel is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Able is a variant of Abel. The history of Abel gives this family its wider story. Abel has a place in biblical naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Able through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,115
- 1,115 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2014
- 45 babies
- 2025
- 19
- #5,046 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −29%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 19 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,046 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 28.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 45 in 2014. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,621 as a first name in 2020; 2,264 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Able’s family of names
Able has a related form in Abel. In German usage, Able as a surname has a related form in Abele.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Able, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Avel
“the life force; breath”
>99% boys
Abran
“father of a multitude (of nations)” · “father of a multitude; father of nations”
>99% boys
Elnathan
“God has given”
>99% boys
Lazar
“leper”
>99% boys
Ab
“father of light” · “father of the light”
>99% boys
Sampson
Sampson is a masculine given name from Hebrew. It is used in English and Middle English.
>99% boys
Isac
“full of laughter”
>99% boys
Efren
“one who is tertile; productive”
>99% boys