Given name & surname
Abner
“father of light”·“father of the light”
Abner is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “father of light” (Hebrew) and “father of the light” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original Hebrewאבנר
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “father of light” (Hebrew) and “father of the light” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
In English usage, Abner developed from אבנר.
The story
The name appears in biblical tradition, giving it a longstanding religious and cultural context.
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Abner appears in 1 Samuel 14:51, 2 Samuel 2:8, 2 Samuel 2:13-16.
- 1 Samuel 14:51
- 2 Samuel 2:8
- 2 Samuel 2:13-16
From biblical name research
Abner through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,454
- 9,454 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 293 babies
- 2025
- 274
- #874 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +19%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 274 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 874 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 19.3% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (30). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,461 as a first name in 2020; 5,344 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.
Abner’s family of names
In English usage, Abner has a diminutive in Ab. In English usage, Abner developed from the Hebrew form אבנר. Abner has a conventional equivalent in the English form Abby.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Avnervariant
- Abshort form · English
- Abnnerlikely variant
- Abbnerlikely variant
- Abnyrvariant
- Abnirvariant
- Abnurvariant
- Abnarvariant
Show 1 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 47
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
- Abigailshares a root
- Neriahshares a root
- Abramshares a root
- Abielshares a root
- Joabshares a root
- Eliabshares a root
- Jobshares a root
- Abimaelshares a root
Show 39 moreShow fewer
- Abishaishares a root
- Abbashares a root
- Nerishares a root
- Abijahshares a root
- Abishares a root
- Abiahshares a root
- Abiudshares a root
- Abiramshares a root
- Abinadabshares a root
- Abiashares a root
- Abihailshares a root
- Abiezershares a root
- Abidanshares a root
- Abidashares a root
- Absalomshares a root
- Nereusshares a root
- Nershares a root
- Abitubshares a root
- Abitalshares a root
- Abishurshares a root
- Abishuashares a root
- Abishalomshares a root
- Abishagshares a root
- Abinoamshares a root
- Abimelechshares a root
- Abijamshares a root
- Abihudshares a root
- Abihushares a root
- Abiatharshares a root
- Abiasaphshares a root
- Abi-Albonshares a root
- Oholiabshares a root
- Moabshares a root
- Huram-abishares a root
- Chileabshares a root
- Ben-abinadabshares a root
- Bebaishares a root
- Barabbasshares a root
- Ahabshares a root
People named Abner
- Abner ViníciusBrazilian footballer (born 2000)
- Abner FelipeBrazilian footballerborn 1996
- Abner DoubledayUnion Army general1819–1893
- Abner BibermanAmerican actor, director, and screenwriter (1909–1977)
- Abner MaresMexican professional boxerborn 1985
- Abner TeixeiraBrazilian boxerborn 1996
- Linwood HoltonAmerican politician (1923–2021)
- Abner LacockAmerican politician (1770–1837)
- Abner MikvaAmerican politician, jurist and law professor (1926–2016)
Characters named Abner: Polka-Dot Man (Fictional DC Comics supervillain), Abner Jenkins (Marvel Comics).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Abner, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Asa
“doctor, healer” · “born in the morning”
89% boys · 11% girls
Eleazar
“God will help”
>99% boys
Ananias
“Yah has been gracious” · “graciously given of Yah”
>99% boys
Abel
“the life force; breath”
>99% boys
Ozias
“power of Yah” · “Yah is strong”
>99% boys
Axel
“source of life; small oak” · “axe”
>99% boys
Samson
“sun man”
>99% boys
Boaz
“swiftness” · “one who is swift”
>99% boys